~ with gratitude to Kieran ~

Thanks Ann for the rest of the verses to Billy Boy. Later in the day you sent them, I remembered while walking back from the dugout and started to sing. However, another song that leads off with a "Billy" came out of my mouth instead.

This is one that my sweet little mother sang many years ago when we sat around the campfire one night at Saskin Beach. It's one of few that I remember all the words to and can pull out of a hat when at a campfire and have imbibed enough ale to loosen my warbling tongue. Imagine it sung in my best Irish brogue (which isn't much, but a nod to St Patrick's) and accompanied by a skin drum.

Billy be fair and Billy be fine
He wants me for to wed
And I would marry Billy but me father up and said
I hate to tell ye daughter what yer muther never knew
But Billy there's a son of mine and so he's kin to you.

Johnny be fair and Johnny be fine
He wants me for to wed
And I would marry Johnny but me father up and said
I hate to tell ye daughter what yer muther never knew
But Johnny there's a son of mine and so he's kin to you.

Sammy be fair and Sammy be fine
He wants me for to wed
And I would marry Sammy but me father up and said
I hate to tell ye daughter what yer muther never knew
But Sammy there's a son of mine and so he's kin to you.

Well ...
You never saw a girl so sad and sorry as I was
The boys in town are all me kin, me father is the cause
If things should thus continue I shall die a single miss
I think I'll go to muther and complain to her of this.

She said ...
Daughter haven't I taught ye to forgive and to forget
Yer father may have sown a few wild oats and yet
He may be father to all the boys in town but still
He's not the one who sired you so marry who you will.