A Book of Nursery Songs and Rhymes/My Boy Billy
XXV. MY BOY BILLY.
'Where hast thou been to-day,
Billy, my Billy?
Where hast thou been to-day,
My honey boy?'
'I've been a-courting, mother,
Of a fair lady gay.
Yet she's too young
To be taken from her mammy.'
'Can she card and can she spin,
Billy, my Billy?
Can she card and can she spin,
My honey boy?'
'Yes, she can card and she can spin,
O and yes, she can do everything.
Yet she's too young,' etc.
'But is she fit to be thy love,
Billy, my Billy?
But is she fit to be thy love,
My honey boy?'
'O she is fit to be my love,
As to the hand befits the glove.
Yet she's too young,' etc.
'Tarry with me, I pray,
Billy, my Billy,
Tarry with me, I pray,
My honey boy.'
'Down in the meadows a-flowering gay,
Waiteth for me that lady gay.
Yet she's too young,' etc.
'But is she fit to be thy wife,
Billy, my Billy?
But is she fit to be thy wife,
My honey boy?'
'O she is fit to be my wife,
As that a sheath befits a knife.
Yet she's too young,' etc.
'How old may she be,
Billy, my Billy?
How old may she be,
My honey boy?'
'She is twice six, twice seven,
Twice ten, and twice eleven.
Yet she's too young
To be taken from her mammy.'