Billy Boy

Words and Music: Traditional. See Pioneer Songs, p. 90

Voices: Unison

This arrangement by: Michael Smurthwaite

Description: Popular boy pursues girl love song with saucy tone and flirtatious smile.

Gives a flavor of 19th century courtship.

Billy-Boy-Pioneer-

Lyrics:

1.Oh where have you been, Billy Boy, Billy Boy, Oh where have you been charming Billy? I have been to seek a wife, She’s the joy of my life. She’s a young thing and cannot leave her mother.

2.Did she bid you to come in, Billy Boy, Billy Boy, Did she bid you to come in charming Billy?
Yes she bade me to come in, here’s a dimple in her chin,She’s a young thing and cannot leave her mother.

3.Did she set for you a chair, Billy Boy, Billy Boy, did she set for you a chair, charming Billy?
Yes she set for me a chair, she has ringlets in her hair.She’s a young thing and cannot leave her mother.

4. Can she bake a cherry pie, Billy Boy, Billy Boy, Can she make a cherry pie, charming Billy?
She can make a cherry pie, Quick as she can wink her eye, She’s a young thing and cannot leave her mother.

5. How old is she Billy Boy, Billy Boy, How old is she charming Billy?Three times six and four times sev’n,
Twenty eight and then e’lev’n, She’s a young thing and cannot leave her mother.