Little Boy Billee- Bob Roberts (Suf) 1977 REC
[From: Bob Roberts songs from the Sailing Barges TSDL361
R. Matteson 2017]
Bob Roberts was Dorset-born but grew up in Suffolk. He spent most of his working life on sailing barges carrying cargo round Britain or across the Channel to Europe. His repertoire was a treasury of bargemen’s songs, which he sang with a mellow grace to his own melodeon accompaniment. Roberts was active on the folk scene during the 1950s and 60s, but was seldom heard before these recordings made in 1977 returned him to clubs and festivals.
Little Boy Billee- sung by Bob Roberts of Suffolk in 1977.
Oh father, father, build me a boat
And on the ocean I'll go afloat.
And every ship that I chance to see,
I'll make enquiry for my boy Billee.
She 'adn't long sailed on the sea
When a man o' war ship she chanced to see.
Oh captain, captain, come tell me true,
Is me Billy boy there aboard wi' you?
What's the colour o' your Billy's hair?
What kind o' cloth does your Billy wear?
His hair is auburn, 'is eyes are blue,
And 'e wears the cloth of the navy blue.
I doubt, I doubt your Billy's not 'ere.
Last night 'e was drownded off Yarmouth pier.
You mind the time when the sea ran 'igh?
It parted us and your Billy boy.
Oh mother, mother the waves are wide.
The waves are long, and with him I'll bide.
So on 'em cast a turtle dove,
To show the world that I died in love.
(spoken) and over the side she went.