1. ’Where have you been. Billy boy, Billy boy, Where have you been, charming Billy?’ 
"I’ve been seeking me a wife, she’s the comfort of my life; She’s a young thing, and cannot leave her mother.’ 
2 ’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 ; she’s a dimple in her chin. She’s a young thing, and cannot leave her mother.’ 
3 ’Did she bid you have a chair, liilly boy, Billy boy. Did she bid yoti have a chair, charming Billy ?’ 
’Yes, she bade me have a chair; she has ringlets in her hair. She’s a young thing, and cannot leave her mother.’ 

4. ’Can she make a cherry pie. Billy boy, Billy boy, Can she make a cherry pie, charming Billy ?’ 

’Yes, she can make a cherry pie quick as a cat can wink its eye. She’s a young thing, and cannot leave her mother.’ 

5. ’Can she make a pudding well, Billy boy, Billy boy. Can she make a pudding well, charming Billy?’ 

’Yes, she can make a pudding well, you can tell it by the smell. She’s a voung thing, and cannot leave her mother.’ 
"Did she bid you to come back, Billy boy, Billy boy, Did she bid you to come back, charming Billy ?’ 
’Yes. she bade me to come back, after giving me a smack. She’s a young thing, and cannot leave her mother." 
7 ’How old is she. Billy boy, Billy boy. How old is she, charming Billy?’ ’She’ll be fortv-four next fall, and she’s got no teeth atall. She’s a young thing, and cannot leave her mother.’ 
B.’Billy Boy.’ From Miss Florence Holton of Durham. 
1 ’Where have you been. Billy boy. Billy boy. Where have you been, charming Billy?’ 
’I have been to see my wife, she’s the joy of my life; She’s a young thing, and can’t leave her mother.’ 
Visit http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk for more songs 
’Did she ask you in. Billy boy. Billy boy. Did she ask you in, charming Billy?’ ’She did ask me in. with a dimple in her chin ; She’s a young thing, and can’t leave her mother.’ 
3 ’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 his eye. She’s a young thing, and can’t leaveher mother.’ 
4 ’Did she set for youa chair. Billy boy. Billy boy. Did she set for you a chair, charming Billy?’ 
’She did set for me a chair with a ringlet in her hair. She’s a young thing, and can’t leave her mother.’ 
5 Can she make a feather bed. Billy- boy. Billy boy. Can she make a feather bed, charming Billy?’ 
’She can make a feather bed, with a candle on her head. She’s a young thing, and can’t leave her mother.’ 
6. "How tall is she, billy hoy. Billy hoy, How tall is she, charming Billy ?’ 
’She’s as tall as any pine and as thin as a pumpkin vine. She’s a young thing,and can’t leave her mother.’ 
7 "Is she worth anything, Billy- boy, Billy boy, Is she worth anything, charming Billy?’ 
’She is worth a cow and a calf, and a dollar and a half. She’s a young thing, and can’t leave her mother.’ 
8 ’What is her name. Billy boy. Billy boy. What is her name, charming Billy ?’ 
’Her name is Susanna, and she lives in Louisiana. She’s a young thing, and can’t leave her mother.’ 
9 ’How old is she, Billy boy. Billy boy. How old is she, charming Billy?’ 
’Twice six. twice seven, twice twentv and eleven ; She’s a young thing, and can’t leave her mother.’ 
C. ’Billie Boy.’ Reported by Gertrude Allen (later Mrs. Vaught) from Oakboro, Stanly county. Stanzas 1, 2, and 4 as in A. Stanza 3 runs :
Visit http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk for more songs 
’Did she give you a seat. Billy boy, Billy boy. Did she give you a seat, charming Billy?’ 
’Yes, she gave me a seat and a piece of bread and meat. She’s a young thing that cannot leave her mother.’ 
.And after stanza 4 it runs as follows : 
5 ’Can she make a loaf of bread. Billy boy. Ijilly boy. Can she make a loaf of bread, charming Billy?’ 
’Yes, she can make a loaf of bread hard as any *feller’s head. She’s a young thing and cannot leave her mother.’ 
6 "Can she make up a bed. Billy boy, Billyboy, Can she make up a bed. charming Billy?" 
’Yes, she can make up the bed, fit the pillows at the head. She’s a young thing and cannot leave her mother.’ 
7 ’How tall is she. Billy boy, Billy boy. How tall is she, charming Billy ?’ 
’She’s as tall as a rail, slick as any monkey’s tail. She’s a young thing and cannot leave her mother.’ 
file from: www.traditionalmusic.co.uk 
Visit http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk for more songs