Constant Billy
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Transcription: by Darryl D. Bush
"Constant Billy", also known as "Cease Your Funning", "Death of Parker",<br> "Lofty Mountains" or President Parker" is an English Morris Dance in either<br> 6/8 or duple versions and A Major (Bacon & Raven-Adderbury, Oddington & Wheatly versions;<br> Williamson), F Major (Bacon–Bidford),<br> G Major (Bacon–Bucknell, Eynsham, Field Town, Headington, Ilmington, Barnes, Kershaw MS,<br> Longborough & Sherborne, Mallinson–Adderbury and Headington versions)or B Flat Major<br> (Bacon–Bampton).<br> The parts are played AB (Barnes), AAB, x6 (Adderbury, Bampton, Bucknell versions),<br> AABB, x4 (Headington version), AABB (Kershaw, Williamson) and ABABABA (Bacon-Bidford).<br> The tune was very popular throughout England and became a morris standard, being set<br> to a variety of dances. Cotswold morris versions are numerous and come from the areas of<br> Adderbury, Bampton, Bidford, Bucknell, Eynsham, Field Town (Leafield), Headington,<br> Ilmington, Longborough, Oddington, Sherborne and Wheatley.<br> In modern times the tune is usually played in the key of G Major to accommodate<br> the morris melodeon.<br> Morris dancers traditionally sing these words while walking in a circle as a preamble<br> to the dance proper:<br> <br> Oh, Billy, my constant Billy,<br> When will I see my Billy again?<br> When the fish fly over the trees<br> Then will I see my Billy again.<br> <br> Oh! my Billy, my constant Billy,<br> When shall I see my Billy again?<br> Billy again! Billy again! Billy again! Billy again!<br> Oh! my Billy, my constant Billy,<br> When shall I see my Billy again? (Bacon-Adderbury)<br> <br> It was printed in Bacon's A Handbook of Morris Dances (1974),<br> Barnes' English Country Dance Tunes, vol. 2 (2005),<br> The Joseph Kershaw Manuscript (1993),<br> Karpeles & Schofield's A Selection of 100 English Folk Dance Airs (1951),<br> Mallinson's Mally's Cotswold Morris Book, vol. 1 (1988),<br> Neal's Espérance Morris Book, vol. 1 (1910),<br> Raven's English Country Dance Tunes (1984) and<br> Williamson's English, Welsh, Scotch and Irish Fiddle Tunes (1976).<br> It was recorded by John Kirkpatrick on Plain Capers (1976/1992) and<br> Francis Shergold on Greeny Up (1988. The Bampton version of the melody).<br> <br>
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