Billy Boy (version 1) lyrics by Children, 2 meanings. Billy Boy (version 1) explained, official 2024 song lyrics | LyricsMode.com
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Children – Billy Boy (version 1) 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.
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Billy Boy (version 1) meanings

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    We sang this song in my family when I was a child (about 50 years ago), and I'm sure it has been in the family for at least 50 years more. I was taught that the numbers in the last verse are the answer to the question, "How old is she?". Although I admit the math is not straight-forward, I was taught to multiply the numbers and add all of them together, resulting in an age of 85! It is meant to be humorous, and we would all sing the final refrain slowly, loudly and with much irony: "She a young thing and cannot leave her mother!"
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  • m
    - 3
    Mark D. Rowan
    I wonder about a couple of lines. "can she bake a cherry pie?" Could it be asking "does she have a cherry" /is she a virgin? Second, "she's a young thing and cannot leave her mother"- Is she too young for courtship? Has Billy developed an infatuation with a 12 or 13 year old? In rural America in the late 19th and early 20th century in was common for 14-16 year olds to marry. If she is too young to leave her mother, I 'm betting she is too young for Billy. As to "how old is she", I interpret that answer as "it's none of your business" The math would indicate she is much older than "a young thing that cannot leave her mother" so the answer is ""old enough for your approval?! " or "non-ya".
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      We sang this song in my family when I was a child (about 50 years ago), and I'm sure it has been in... Read more →

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