My Boy Billy- Halliwell (Yorkshire) c. 1849
This version or a similar one from Halliwell's Popular Rhymes and Nursery Tales has been reprinted:
BILLY BOY
Opie & Opie, The Oxford Nursery Rhyme Book
1. Where have you been al the day, Billy boy, Billy boy?
Where have you been all the day, my boy Billy?
I have been all the day
Courting of a lady gay,
But oh ! she is too young
To be taken from her mammy.
2. Is she fit to be thy love, Billy boy, Billy boy?
Is she fit to be thy love, my boy Billy?
She's as fit to be my love
As my hand is for my glove,
But oh ! she is too young
To be taken from her mammy.
3. Can she brew and can she bake, Billy boy, Billy boy?
Can she brew and can she bake, my boy Billy?
She can brew and she can bake,
And she can make a wedding cake,
But oh ! she is too young
To be taken from her mammy.
4. Is she fit to be thy wife, Billy boy, Billy boy?
Is she fit to be thy wife, my boy Billy?
She's as fit to be my wife
As a sheath is for a knife,
But oh ! she is too young
To be taken from her mammy.
5. How old may she be, Billy boy, Billy boy?
How old may she be, my boy Billy?
Twice six, twice seven,
Twice twenty and eleven,
But oh ! she is too young
To be taken from her mammy.
The above is from Iona and Peter Opie, 1955 and reprints, The Oxford Nursery Rhyme Book, Oxford University Press. The third verse not found in Haliwell has been added.
MY BOY BILLY- Halliwell's Popular Rhymes and Nursery Tales p. 258-263. 1849. Appears in a footnote as: * 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.