Little Billy

Cat. #0160 (MFH #346) - As sung by Odis Bird, Marshall, Arkansas on August 6, 1958

VERSE 1
Little Billy come over th sea, sea, sea
Litlly Billy come courtin' of me
I taken a part of my Fathers gold
Likewise of my Mothers fee
An' two of the very best horses there
Where's tied thirty and three, three, three
Where's tied thirty and three

VERSE 2
It's you mounted on th bonny black
And me the dappledy gray
We rode till we came to th broad, broad side
Th length of a long summer day, day, day
Th length of a long summer day

VERSE 3
It's light you down my pretty Polly
It's light you down, said he
I'll end all th promises I made to you
I'll end them all two three, three, three
I'll end them all two three

VERSE 4
It's pull off that long keen costly gown
And lay it upon my knee
For it is a sin and a false of man
A naked woman for to see, see, see
A naked woman for to see

VERSE 5
It's turn yourself all around and about
Your eyes on th leaves of th tree
He turned himself all around and about
Put his eyes on th leaves of th tree
She grabbed him 'round the middle so strong
And tossed him into th sea, sea, sea
And tossed him into th sea

VERSE 6
It's pull me out, you pretty Polly
It's pull me out, says he
It's no lay there, you wicked Willie
In th place of me
For six kings daughters is drowned here
And th seven, seventh shall be, be, be
And seventh, seventh shall be

VERSE 7
She mounted on th bonny black
And led th dappledy gray
She rode till she came to her Fathers house
It were three hours till day, day, day
It were three hours till day

VERSE 8
She put away her Fathers gold
Likewise of her Mothers fee
And two of th very best horses there
Where lie thirty and three, three, three
Where lie thirty and three

VERSE 9
It's where have you been my pretty Polly
Where have you been so long
Shut up your mouth, my pretty parrott
And start no tales on me
I'll have your wings for th pretty green door
Your door for th ivory, ree, ree
Your door for th ivory

VERSE 10
I'll send along for th pretty fair maid
For to drive that scratch cat away, way, way
For to drive that scratch cat away

Odis surprised me by singing a Child ballad.

Variants