Annotation:Constant Billy
X:1 T:Constant Billy M:6/8 L:1/8 S:Adderbury K:A E|A2e c<Ac|d2B G2E|c>BA F2E|1 EFG A2:|2 EFG A3||cde f3| Bcd e3|cde f3|Bcd e2 (3e/f/g/|a2e c<Ac|d2B G2E|c>BA F2E|EFG A2||
CONSTANT BILLY. AKA and see "Cease Your Funning (1)," "Death of Parker," "Lofty Mountains," "President Parker." English, Morris Dance (6/8 and duple versions). A Major (Bacon & Raven-Adderbury, Oddington & Wheatly versions; Williamson): F Major (Bacon–Bidford): G Major (Bacon–Bucknell, Eynsham, Field Town, Headington, Ilmington, Barnes, Kershaw MS, Longborough & Sherborne, Mallinson–Adderbury and Headington versions): B Flat Major (Bacon–Bampton). Standard, though Williamson suggests GDgd, tuning (fiddle). AB (Barnes): AAB, x6 (Adderbury, Bampton, Bucknell versions): AABB, x4 (Headington version): AABB (Kershaw, Williamson): ABABABA (Bacon-Bidford). Robin Williamson (1976) reports that the tune appears to be a close variant of a Scots tune called "Cia Mar Is Urra Sinn Fuirreach O'n Dram" (How Shall We Abstain from Whiskey?). That melody was written in the early 18th century by John MacMurdo of Kintail; it was published in Scotland (MacMurdo emigrated at some point to America), where it was thought to have been Irish in origin and called "Legacy (1) (The)" until Captain Simon Frazer pointed out its true origins in his late 18th century-collected Airs and Melodies of the Highlands of Scotland. The tune was very popular throughout England and became a morris standard, being set to a variety of dances. Cotswold morris versions are numerous and come from the areas of Adderbury, Bampton, Bidford, Bucknell, Eynsham, Field Town (Leafield), Headington, Ilmington, Longborough, Oddington, Sherborne and Wheatley. In modern times the tune is usually played in the key of G Major to accommodate the ubiquitous morris melodeon. There is a "Constant Billy" in the third volume of Playford's Dancing Master, which Kidson (1922) identifies as a late 17th century song found on half-sheet music beginning:
When the hills and lofty mountains
And the vales were hid in snow.
Morris dancers traditionally sing these words while walking in a circle as a preamble to the dance proper:
Oh, Billy, my constant Billy,
When will I see my Billy again?
When the fish fly over the trees
Then will I see my Billy again.
Oh! my Billy, my constant Billy,
When shall I see my Billy again?
Billy again! Billy again! Billy again! Billy again!
Oh! my Billy, my constant Billy,
When shall I see my Billy again? (Bacon-Adderbury)
