Billy Boy- Hull (WV) 1916 Cox A
[From Folk-Songs of the South by John Harrington Cox, 1925. Following are Cox's excellent notes.
R. Matteson 2014]
168 BILLY BOY
For American texts see Clifton Johnson, What They Say in New England (Boston, 1897), p. 230; Shoemaker, pp. 102, 131 (Pennsylvania); Wolford, The Play-Party in Indiana, p. 24; Campbell and Sharp, No. 89 (North Carolina);
Pound, No. 113 (Nebraska; cf. Journal, xxvi, 356); Waugh, Journal, xxxi, 78 (Ontario); De Marsan broadside, List 18, No. 4; Beadle's Dime Song Book No. 10 (cop. 1863), p. 62. Cf. Shearin and Combs, p. 30 (Kentucky); F. C. Brown, p. 10 (North Carolina); Jones, p. 3 (Michigan); Wyman MS., No. 25 (Kentucky) ; Minish MS. (North Carolina) ; Belden's Missouri collection.
A parody written in the days of the Civil War ("Bully Boy, Billy") may be read in Child's War-Songs for Freemen (Boston, cop. 1862), p. 41. For British references see Kittredge, Journal, xxvi, 357, note 1. Sharp (One Hundred English Folksongs, p. xxxiv) suggests that "Billy Boy" is "a comic derivative, or burlesque," of "Lord Randal" (Child, No. 12).
Hector Macneht's "My Boy Tammie" or "Tammy's Courting," modeled on the English song (see The Vocal Magazine, Edinburgh, 1797, Song cv), is found in American songbooks: as, The Minstrel (Baltimore, 181 2), p. 106; The Singer's Magazine and Universal Vocalist (Philadelphia, 1835), I, 176; The Bijou Minstrel (Philadelphia, 1840), p. 117; The Bonnie Dundee Songster (cop. 1868), p. 68; Delaney's Scotch Song-Book No. 1, p. 16.
In addition to the texts given below, this song was reported by others as follows: Miss Sallie Evans, Elkins, Randolph County; Mr. N. D. Barber, Charleston, Kanawha County; Miss Emma Boughner, Morgan town, Monongalia County; and a second text by Mrs. Hilary G. Richardson, Clarksburg, Harrison County.
A. Billy Boy. Contributed by Mr. S. F. Hull, Frankfort, Greenbrier County, January 19, 1916.
1 "Where have you been, Billy Boy?
Where have you been, charming Billy?"
"I have been to see my wife,
She is the joy of my life:
She is a young thing, too young to leave her mother."
2 "Did she ask you in, Billy Boy?
Did she ask you in, charming Billy? "
"Yes, she asked me in,
With the dimples in her chin:
She is a young thing, too young to leave her mother."
3 "Did she ask you to take a chair, Billy Boy?
Did she ask you to take a chair, charming Billy?"
"Yes, she asked me to take a chair,
With the wrinkles in her hair:
She is a young thing, too young to leave her mother."
4 "Can she bake a sweetened pone, Billy Boy?
Can she bake a sweetened pone, charming Billy?"
"Yes, she can bake a sweetened pone,
You can eat it or let it alone:
She is a young thing, too young to leave her mother."
5 "Can she bake a cherry pie, Billy Boy?
Can she bake a cherry pie, charming Billy?"
"Yes, she can bake a cherry pie
Quick as a cat can wink its eye:
She is a young thing, too young to leave her mother."
6 " Can she make a pair of breeches, Billy Boy?
Can she make pair of breeches, charming Billy? "
"Yes, she can make a pair of breeches
Fast as you can count the stitches:
She is a young thing, too young to leave her mother."
7 "How tall is she, Billy Boy?
How tall is she, charming Billy?"
"She is as tall as a pine
And straight as a pumpkin vine:
She is a young thing, too young to leave her mother."
8 "How old is she, Billy Boy?
How old is she, charming Billy?"
"She is twice six, twice seven,
Twice twenty and eleven:
She is a young thing, too young to leave her mother."