Child No. 12 Appendix: Billie Boy (Bronson)
[Bronson lists Billie Boy (Billy Boy), No. 12A, as an Appendix to Lord Randal and gives 29 tunes. Bronson says William Stenhouse and John Glen give Macneill as the source of the song which Bronson doesn't name. Its name given by Macneill is "My Boy Tammy" and other similar versions are titled "The Lammie" also "The Lammy". Although attributed to Hector Macneill in 1791, a nearly identical text was printed in 1776 by David Herd, George Paton in Ancient and Modern Scottish Songs, titled "The Lammy." Clearly Macneill's popular version is the text of a traditional version, perhaps Herd's, and is not "a re-write by Macneill" as some editors and Bronson have suggested. For a biography on Macneill see: attached page to Recordings & Info.
"Billy Boy" is said, by some ballad researchers and authors, to be a parody of the earlier ballad, "Lord Randal." According Charles Rogers in his 1855 book, The Modern Scottish Minstrel: "It is adapted to an old and sweet air, to which, however, very puerile words were attached." Bronson as does Glen suggests the air or tune "is cut from the same cloth as Muirland Willie."
There is an association with the "Highland Laddie" songs.
R. Matteson 2011]
CONTENTS:
1. Bronson's Narrative
2. "The Lammy" David Herd 1776
3. "My Boy Tammy" William Stenhouse
4. "The Lammy"- The Harp of Caledonia- edited by John Struthers 1821
5. "Tammy's Courtship" and "My Boy Billy" from Halliwell's Popular Rhymes and Nursery Tales p. 258-263
6. "My Boy Tammy" Bodleian Library- no date given
7. "My Boy Tammy" Hector Macneill reprinted Charles Mackay
ATTACHED PAGES (see left hand column):
1. Recordings & Info: Billie Boy
A. Roud Number 326: Billy Boy (306 Listings)
B. Hector Macneill Biography
2. Sheet Music: Lord Randal (Bronson's texts and some music examples)
3. US & Canadian Versions
4. English and Other Versions ]
Bronson's Narrative
According to Bronson, "William Stenhouse and John Glen both ascribe the first appearance of Billie Boy [titled, "My Boy Tammy"] to The Bee, May 1791, an Edinburgh magazine. The words are said to be by Hector Macneill (1746-1818), a prolific author now almost forgotten. Glen observes that Macneill's song appeared also in Napier's, G. Thompson's and Urbini's collections before it was printed in Scots Musical Musuem, No. 502, 1803. They are sentimentalized versions of an older song of which Stenhouse quotes two stanzas.
Bronson adds, "There can be little doubt in anyone's mind that the older song is a spirited parody of Lord Randal." It is clear that the records of the parody are of approximately equal age with the serious ballad; and that the existence of the tune can be carried back in one form or another for a century earlier."
Cecil Sharps adds in his song notes: "The song, I imagine, is a comic derivative, or burlesque, of 'Lord Rendel.' "
Gilchrist adds: Hector Macneill (b. 1746, d. I810) himself aroused the scorn of the critics of a bygone age by the affected simplicity, as they deemed it, of his re-cast of "My boy Tammy" Whitelaw being absolutely repelled by it "for the want of common manliness of expression!" "From the language used," he declares (Essay on the Song-Writers of Scotland) "one would be led to conclude that the 'boy Tammy' had not reached the era of breeches, and that his bride was yet in her pinafores." Alas for the "silly old songs " under the cold eyes of such literary gentlemen!
[My Take: The form, structure and opening lines are nearly identical in both Billy Boy (My Boy Tammy) and Lord Randal. Since they are both of similar age- one could have been a parody of the other- or more likely, they are separate versions of similar songs.]
Versions: My Boy Tammy/The Lammy
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Although attributed to Hector Macneill in 1791, a nearly identical text was printed in 1776 by David Herd, George Paton in Ancient and Modern Scottish Songs, titled "The Lammy." The first verse is repeated throughout:
THE LAMMY- 1776; David Herd, George Paton; Ancient and Modern Scottish Songs
"Whare hae ye been a' day, my boy, Tammy?
Whare hae ye been a' day, my boy, Tammy?"
"I've been by burn and flow'ry brae,
Meadow green, and mountain gray,
Courting o' this young thing,
Just come frae her mammy."
"And whare got ye that young thing, my boy, Tammy?"
"I gat her down in yonder how,
Smiling on a broomy know,
Herding ae wee lamb and ewe for her poor Mammy."
"What said ye to the bounie bairn, my boy, Tammy?"
"I praised her een, sae bonnie blue,
Her dimpled cheek, and cherry mou';
I pree'd it aft, as ye may trow;— she said she'd tell her Mammy.
"I held her to my beating heart, my young, my smiling Lammie!
"I hae a house, it cost me dear;
I've wealth o' plenLshin' and gear;—
Ye'se get it a' war't ten times mair, gin ye will leave your Mammy.'
"The smile gaed aff her bonnie face, "I manna leave my Mammy;
She's gi'en me meat, she's gi'en me claise,
She's been my comfort a' my days;
"My father's death brought mony waes--"I canna leave my Mammy."
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From: Illustrations of the Lyric Poetry and Music of Scotland by William Stenhouse 1853:
MY BOY TAMMY
This fine ballad, beginning " Whar hae ye been a' day, my boy, Tammy?" was written by Hector Macneill, Esq. It first appeared in a magazine, printed at Edinburgh in 1791, entitled " The Bee," which was conducted by his friend Dr James Anderson. It has since been printed in the author's poetical works, and has deservedly become a favourite with the public. Miss Duncan (afterwards Mrs Davidson) the celebrated actress, used frequently to sing this ballad on the stage with great applause.
The melody, to which the words are adapted, is very ancient and uncommonly pretty. The old song, however, was quite puerile; the Editor has often heard it sung by old people, when he was a boy, and he still remembers some of the verses. One of them ran thus:
Is she fit to soop the house,
My boy, Tammy?
Is she fit to soop the house,
My boy, Tammy?
She's just as fit to soop the house
As the cat to tak' a mouse;
And yet she's but a young thing
New come frae her mammy.
Another verse contained a very singular sort of puzzle:
How auld's the bonnie young thing,
My boy, Tammy?
How auld's the bonnie young thing,
My boy, Tammy?
She's twice sii and twice seven,
Twice twenty and eleven;
And yet she's but a young thing
Just come frae her mammy.
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THE LAMMIE- The Harp of Caledonia- edited by John Struthers 1821
MACNIELL (Attributed to Macneill)
Whar hae ye been a' day, my boy Tammy?
Whar hae ye been a' day, my boy Tammy?
I've been by burn and flow'ry brae,
Meadow green and mountain grey,
Courting o' this young thing,
Just come frae her mammy.
And whar gat ye that young thing, my boy Tammy?
And whar gat ye that young thing, my boy Tammy?
I gat her down in yonder howe,
Smiling on a broomy knowe,
Herding ae we Lamb and ewe
For her poor mammy.
What said ye to the bonnie bairn, my boy Tammy?
What said ye to the bonnie bairn, my boy Tammy?
I prais'd her een, sae lovely blue,
Her dimpl'd cheek, and cherry mou';—
I pree'd it aft, as ye may true !—
She said, she'd tell her mammy.
I held her to my beating heart, my young, my smiling Lammie!
I held her to my beating heart, my young, my smiling Lammie!
I hae a house, it cost me dear,
I've walth o' plenishing and gear;
Ye'se get it a' war't ten times mair,
Gin ye will leave your mammy,
The smile gade aff her bonny face—I maunna leave my mammy.
The smile gade aff her bonny face—I maunna leave my mammy.
She's gi'en me meat, she's gi'en me claise,
She's been my comfort a' my days:—
My father's death brought monie waes— "
I canna leave my mammy.
We'll tak her hame and mak her fain, my ain kind hearted Lammie!
We'll tak her hame aud mak her fain, my ain kind hearted Lammie!
We'll gie her meat, we'll gie her claise,
We'll be her comfort a' her days.
The wee thing gie's her hand, and says
There! gang and ask my mammy.
Has she been to the kirk wi' thee, my boy Tammy?
Has she been to the kirk wi' thee, my boy Tammy?
She has been to the kirk wi' me,
And the tear was in her ee,—
But O! she's but a young thing,
Just come frae her mammy.
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BILLY, MY SON [Excerpt from Halliwell's Popular Rhymes and Nursery Tales p. 258-263. Shows relationship with Lord Randal. "Billy My Son" is a version of Lord Randal.]
The following lines are very common in the English nursery, and resemble the popular German ditty of Grandmother Addercook, inserted in the Knaben Wunderhorn, and translated by Dr. Jamieson in the Illustrations of Northern Antiquities. The ballad of the Crowden Doo, Chambers, p. 205, bears, however, a far greater similarity to the German song. Compare, also, the ballad of Willie Doo, in Buchan's Ancient Songs, ii. 179.
Where have you been to-day,
Billy, my son?
Where have you been to-day, my only man?
I've been a wooing, mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at heart, and fain would lay down.
What have you ate to-day, Billy, my son?
What have you ate to-day, my only man?
I've ate eel-pie, mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at heart, and shall die before noon.
It is said there is some kind of a fairy legend connected with these lines, Billy having probably been visited by his mermaid mother. Nothing at all satisfactory has, however, yet been produced. It appears to bear a slight analogy to the old ballad, "Where have you been all the day, my boy Willie," printed from aversion obtained from Suffolk, in the Nursery Rhymes of England, p. 146;* [see footnote below] and on this account we may here insert a copy of the pretty Scottish ballad, Tammy's Courtship:
Oh, where ha' ye been a' day,
My boy Tammy!
Where ha' ye been a' day,
My boy Tammy?
I've been by burn and flow'ry brae,
Meadow green and mountain gray,
Courting o' this young thing,
Just come frae her mammy.
And where gat ye that young thing,
My boy Tammy?
And where gat ye that young thing,
My boy Tammy ?
I gat her down in yonder how,
Smiling on a broomy knowe,
Herding ae wee lamb and ewe
For her poor mammy.
"What said you to the bonny bairn,
My boy Tammy?
What said you to the bonny bairn,
My boy Tammy?
I praised her een sae lovely blue,
Her dimpled cheek and cherry mou';
I preed it aft, as ye may trow—
She said she'd tell her mammy.
I held her to my beating breast,
My young, my smiling lammy;
I held her to my beating breast,
My young, my smiling lammy:
I hae a house, it cost me dear,
I've wealth o' plenishing and gear,
Ye'se get it a', war't ten times mair,
Gin ye will leave your mammy.
The smile gaed aff her bonny face,
I maunna leave my mammy;
The smile gaed aff her bonny face,
I maunna leave my mammy:
She's gi'en me meat, she's gi'en me claise,
She's been my comfort a' my days;
My father's death brought mony wacs—
I canna leave my mammy.
We'll tak' her hame, and mak' her fain,
My ain kind-hearted lammy;
We'll tak' her hame, and mak' her fain,
My ain kind-hearted lammy:
We'll gie her meat, we'll gie her claise,
We'll be her comfort a' her days;
The wee thing gi'es her han', and says—
There! gang and ask my mammy.
Has she been to the kirk wi' thee,
My boy Tammy?
Has she been to the kirk wi thee,
My boy Tammy?
She's been to kirk wi' me,
And the tear was in her e'e;
But, oh! she's but a young thing,
Just come frae her mammy!
* Another version was obtained from Yorkshire:
Where have you been all the day,
My boy Billy?
Where have you been all the day,
My boy Billy?
I have been all the day
Courting of a lady gay;
Although she is a young thing.
And just come from her mammy!
Is she fit to be thy love.
My boy Billy?
She is as fit to be my love,
As my hand is for my glove,
Although she is, &c.
Is she fit to be thy wife,
My boy Billy?
She is as fit to be my wife,
As my blade is for my knife;
Although she is, &c.
How old may she be,
My boy Billy?
Twice six, twice seven,
Twice twenty and eleven;
Although she is, &c.
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MY BOY TAMMY- Bodleian Library
Oh, where hae ye been a' the day, my boy Tammy?
Where hae ye been a' the day, my boy Tammy?
I've been by burn and flowery brae,
Meadow green and mountain grey,
Courting o' this young thing, just come frae her mammy.
And where gat ye that young thing, my boy Tammy?
And where gat ye that young thing, my boy Tammy?
I got her down in yonder bowe,
Smiling on a broomy knowe,
Herding a wee lamb and ewe for her poor mammy.
What said you to the bonny bairn, my boy Tammy?
What said you to the bonny bairn, my boy Tammy?
I praised her een sae lovely blue,
Her dimpled chin and cherry mou',
I pree'd it aft, as ye may trow- she said she'd tell her mammy.
I held her to my beating breast, my young, my smiling lammy,
I held her to my beating breast, my young, my smiling lammy;
I hae a house, it cost me dear,
I've wealth o plenishing and gear,
Ye'll get it a'wer't ten times mair, gin ye will leave your mammy.
The smile gaed aff her bonny face- I munna leave my mammy,
The smile gaed aff her bonny face- I munna leave my mammy;
She's gi'en me meat, she's gi'en me claes,
And been my comfort a' her days;
My father's death brought mony waes- I munna leave my mammy.
We'll tak' her hame and mak' her fain, my ain kind-hearted lammy,
We'll tak' her hame and mak' her fain, my ain kind-hearted lammy;
We'll gie her meat, we'll gie her c'aes,
We'll be her comfort a' her days;
The wee thing gi'es her hand an' says- there, gang and ask my mammy!
Has she been to kirk wi' thee, my boy Tammy?
Has she been to kirk wi' thee, my boy Tammy?
She has ben to kirk wi' me,
And the tear was in her e'e-
But oh! she's but a young thing, just come frae her mammy!
Bodleian Library, Ballads Catalogue, 2806 c.11(142), no date. Firth b.27 (457/458) view 3, essentially the same, also no date. Firth b.27(59 also appears to be the same, T. Pearson, Manchester, no date.
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Songs of Scotland, ed. by C. Mackay edited by Charles Mackay
MY BOY TAMMY- Hector Macneill Born 1746, died July 15, 1818.
Whar ha'e ye been a' day,
My boy Tammy ?—
I've been by burn and flow'ry brae,
Meadow green and mountain grey,
Courting o' this young thing,
Just come frae her mammy.
And whar gat ye that young thing,
My boy Tammy ?—
I got her down in yonder howe,
Smiling on a bonnie knowe,
Herding ae wee lamb and ewe
For her poor mammy.
AVhat said ye to the bonnie bairn,
My boy Tammy ?—
I praised her een sae lovely blue,
Her dimpled cheek and cherry mou';
I pree'd it aft, as ye may trow,—
She said she'd tell her mammy.
I held her to my beating heart,
My young, my smiling lammie;
I hae a house, it cost me dear,
I've walth o'plenishen and gear;
Ye'se get it a', were't ten times mair,
Gin ye will leave your mammy.
The smile ga'ed aff her bonny face—
I mauna leave my mammy;
She's gien me meet, she's gien me claise,
She's been my comfort a' my days;
My father's death brought monny waes:
I canna leave my mammy.
We'll tak her hame and mak her fain,
My ain kind-hearted lammie;
We'll gie her meet, we'll gie her claise,
We'll be her comfort a' her days.
The wee thing gies her hand and says,
There, gang and ask my mammy.
Has she been to the kirk wi' thee,
My boy Tammy ?—
She has been to the kirk wi' me,
And the tear was in her ee:
For, oh, she's but a young thing,
Just come frae her mammy!