BILLY BOY
An American "children's" song, perhaps a variant of the English song "My Boy Billy"
Accordion Notation
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Beats per bar = 4
Beat symbol = Dot ( . ) or equivalent |
Either row (high): Buttons 5 - 9*
Either row (low): Buttons 2 - 5* |
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Verse 1 (of 4)
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.7 .8* | :8 .8 .8 | :9 .7 .8* | :8 .8 .9* | :8
.4 .4* | :5 .5 .5 | :6 .4 .4* | :5 .5 .5* | :5
O__h, where have you been Bil–ly Boy Bil – ly Boy,
.7 .8* | :8 .8 .8 | :9 .8* .7 | .7 .:7*~ | ~:
.4 .4* | :5 .5 .5 | :6 .4* .4 | .4 .:3*~ | ~:
O__h, where have you been charm–ing Bil – ly___?
.7* .7 | .8* .8* .8* .8* | :8* .8 .8* | .7 .7* .7 .8* | :8
.3* .4 | .4* .4* .4* .4* | :4* .5 .4* | .4 .3* .4 .4* | :5
I have been to seek a wife, she’s the jo_y of my life
.9 .9* | :8 .7 .8 | .8 .8* .7* .6* | .7* .:6~ | ~:
.6 .5* | :5 .4 .5 | .5 .4* .3* .2* | .3* .:3~ | ~:
She’s a young thing and can-not leave her moth - er___
.4 .4* | :5 .5 .5 | :6 .4 .4* | :5 .5 .5* | :5
O__h, where have you been Bil–ly Boy Bil – ly Boy,
.7 .8* | :8 .8 .8 | :9 .8* .7 | .7 .:7*~ | ~:
.4 .4* | :5 .5 .5 | :6 .4* .4 | .4 .:3*~ | ~:
O__h, where have you been charm–ing Bil – ly___?
.7* .7 | .8* .8* .8* .8* | :8* .8 .8* | .7 .7* .7 .8* | :8
.3* .4 | .4* .4* .4* .4* | :4* .5 .4* | .4 .3* .4 .4* | :5
I have been to seek a wife, she’s the jo_y of my life
.9 .9* | :8 .7 .8 | .8 .8* .7* .6* | .7* .:6~ | ~:
.6 .5* | :5 .4 .5 | .5 .4* .3* .2* | .3* .:3~ | ~:
She’s a young thing and can-not leave her moth - er___
Embedded youTube VIDEOS
Twelve youTube videos in keys: Bb=1 C=8 D=2 F,Gb=1
Most of the renditions of this song on youTube were in the keys of Bb and C. I've included one in Bb, five children's in C, and, at the end, three others (Bluegrass, Rock 'n Roll & Jazz) in C.
Most of the renditions of this song on youTube were in the keys of Bb and C. I've included one in Bb, five children's in C, and, at the end, three others (Bluegrass, Rock 'n Roll & Jazz) in C.
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Key: Bb
Singer: ? Posted by: ListenAndReadAlong |
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Key: C
Singer: ? Posted by: Octa Br |
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Key: C
Pianist: ? Posted by: DiversiTune |
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Key: C
Singer: ? Posted by: Kids Learning Videos |
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Key: C
Singers: ? Posted by: We Sing - Topic |
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Key: C
Singers: ? Posted by: Charles Szabo Follows the given rhythm closely. |
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Key: D
Singer: ? Posted by: LDsongscreen |
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From children's song to Bluegrass
Key: D Group: ? Posted by: Various Artists - Topic From "The Essential Bluegrass Collection" |
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Key: F (first half)
Gb (second half) Singers: ? Posted by: BabyBus Nursery Rhymes |
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From children's song to Rock 'n Roll
Different lyrics Key: C Singer: Jerry Lee Lewis Posted by: John1948SixC Interesting choice for Jerry Lee Lewis, given his personal history. |
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From children's song to war commentary, featuring Woody Guthrie & Pete Seeger (1942):
Different lyrics. Key: C Singer: The Almanac Singers Posted by: commarx |
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From children's song to Jazz:
Key: C Pianist: Ahmad Jamal Posted by: desillusion |
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Background Materials, Information & Links
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Lyrics:
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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. Did she ask you to come in, Billy Boy, Billy Boy? Did she ask you to come in, charming Billy? Yes, she asked me to come in, there's a dimple in her chin. She's a young thing and cannot leave her mother. Can she make a cherry pie, Billy Boy, Billy Boy? Can she make a cherry pie, charming Billy? She can make a cherry pie, qauick as a cat can wink an eye, She's a young thing and cannot leave her mother. How old is she, Billy Boy, Billy Boy? How old is she, charming Billy? Three times six and four times seven, twenty-eight and eleven, She's a young thing and cannot leave her mother. |
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Background Links:
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