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Folk Songs, Billy Boy

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yggdrasil Wed 14-Dec-16 17:50:02

The place to look for folk songs is the Mudcat cafe www.mudcat.org
They know all versions, and there are discussions about what comes from where. There seems to be agreement that your version comes from Northumbria.

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janeainsworth Wed 14-Dec-16 17:24:09

Yes Tricia that's the version I know, except I think it's charming Nancy Gray, not darling Nancy May smile

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bellsisabelle Wed 14-Dec-16 16:55:38

Yep. Same version here. Still sing it.

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TriciaF Wed 14-Dec-16 16:42:40

This was one of the folk songs I knew in my childhood, but looking it up on Wiki etc, it's nothing like the version I knew. Which started:
Where have ye been aal the day, Billy Boy, Billy Boy?
Where have ye been aal the day ma Billy Boy?
Aa've been waalkin aal the day wiv me darlin' Nancy May
And me Nancy kittled me fancy
OOh... me charmin Billy Boy. etc (other verses).
Last verse:
Is she fit te be yer wife Billy Boy Billy Boy?
Is she fit te be yer wife me Billy Boy?
She's as fit to be me wife as a fork is to a knife
And me Nancy kittled me fancy
Ooh... me charmin Billy Boy.
Hoping someone remembers this version.

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