Billy Boy

1912 England

Lyrics

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,
Quick 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.

History and Meaning

The nursery rhyme has undergone many variations over the years, with different versions appearing in different countries and regions. The most common version of the nursery rhyme in the United States is a shortened version of the original, with only the first verse and a half being commonly known.

The lyrics of the nursery rhyme often describe the adventures of a young man named Billy Boy, who is courting a young woman named Mary. Many versions include phrases that are now considered archaic and difficult to understand.

Although we have officially dated it to 1912 it was likely in use for some time before that. In the 19th century, it was suggested it was a song for minstrel shows and performed as a solo or duet by the shows' performers.

The meaning behind the nursery rhyme is not entirely clear, but it is thought to reflect the themes of love, loss, and longing that are common in traditional nursery rhymes. Some interpretations suggest that it could be a commentary on the fleeting nature of love and the pain of heartbreak.

Music Video