Billy Boy- McAtee (WV) 1916 Richardson--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.
B. Billy Boy. Communicated by Mrs. Hilary G. Richardson, Clarksburg, Harrison County, 1916; obtained from Mrs. Nancy McAtee.
1 "Where are you going, Billy Boy, Billy Boy?
Where are you going, charming Billy?"
"I am going to seek me a wife,
For the joy of my life:
She's a young thing and can't leave her mammy."
2 "Can she make a feather bed, Billy Boy, Billy Boy?
Can she make a feather bed, charming Billy?"
"Yes, she can make a feather bed
And put the pillows at the head:
She's a young thing and can't leave her mammy."
3 "Can she bake a cherry pie, Billy Boy, Billy Boy?
Can she bake a cherry pie, charming Billy?"
"Yes, she can bake a cherry pie,
Quick as a cat can wink her eye:
She's a young thing and can't leave her mammy."
4 "Is she fitted for your wife, Billy Boy, Billy Boy?
Is she fitted for your wife, charming Billy?"
"She's as fitted for my wife
As my pocket for my knife:
She's a young thing and can't leave her mammy."
5 "How old is she, Billy Boy, Billy Boy?
How old is she, charming Billy?"
"She's twice six, twice seven,
Twice forty and eleven:
She's a young thing and can't leave her mammy."