Billy Boy- Jackson (IN) 1916 Wolford
[From: The Play-Party in Indiana: A Collection of Folk-Songs and Games; Volume 4, by Leah Jackson Wolford; 1916. Wolford's notes follow.
R. Matteson 2014]
b. This is merely sung as a dialogue, the woman or girl questioning and the boy answering the questions. It has no dance, so far as I can find. It is, however, a traditional folk-song and is dramatic.
d. Miss Louise Pound writes of it as follows: "Especially well known is the vivacious piece, in dialog form, in which 'Billy Boy' responds to the questions as to his courting. He is asked whether she can make a cherry-pie, a feather bed, a loaf of bread, can milk a 'muly cow,' and so forth and gives humorous replies." (Jour. Am. Folk-lore, vol. XXVI, pp. 356-7.)
"I have been to see my wife," in the variant given above is certainly a corruption of "I have been for a wife."
Halliwell. Nursery Rhymes. 6th edition, pp. 226-27. Rimbault. A Collection of Old Nursery Rhymes, pp. 34-35. Halliwell. Popular Rhymes and Nursery Tales, 1849. pp. 259-60. Baring-Gould and Sheppard. A Garland of Country Song, 1895, p. 83. Baring-Gould. A Book of Nursery Songs and Rhymes. 1895, pp. 36-39. Ideal Home Music Library, vol. X, p. 213.
I have heard this same song from persons who learned it in Texas, Illinois and Kentucky.
Billy Boy- from Mrs. Allie B. Jackson, Versailles, Ind.; published 1916
1. "Oh where have you been, Billy Boy, Billy Boy,
Oh where have you been, charming Billy?"
"I have been to see my wife, she's the darling of my life,
She's a young thing and can not leave her mommy."
2. "How old is she, Billy Boy, Billy Boy,
How old is she, charming Billy?"
"Twice six, twice seven, twice forty and eleven,
She's a young thing and can not leave her mommy."
3. "Can she bake a cherry pie, Billy Boy, Billy Boy,
Can she bake a cherry pie, charming Billy?"
"She can bake a cherry pie quick as cat can wink its eye,
She's a young thing and can not leave her mommy."
4. "Can she make a feather bed, Billy Boy, Billy Boy,
Can she make a feather bed, charming Billy?"
"She can make a feather bed, with the pillows at the head,
She's a young thing and can not leave her mommy."
5 "Did you ask her to wed, Billy Boy, Billy Boy,
Did you ask her to wed, charming Billy?"
"I did ask her to wed, and this is what she said,
'I'm a young thing and can not leave my mommy!"