Lyr Req: Billy Johnson's Ball

Subject: Lyrics to Billy Johnstone's Ball?
From: GUEST,Dunc McNab
Date: 30 Dec 00 - 08:50 AM

The only words I know from this song are as follows: "They were doing the La La-De-Da Routin-Toutin-Tiddle-Dum Playing on the fiddle Up and down the middle Johnny boy Pretty girls - enough for all And a regular jollification spree Was Billy Johnstone's Ball"

Can you help me with the rest?

Subject: Lyr Add: BILLY JOHNSON'S BALL (from Bodleian)
From: Sorcha
Date: 30 Dec 00 - 10:36 AM

From: Bodleian Ballads http://erl.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/acwwweng/ballads/image.pl?ref=2806+c.16(154a)&id=13554.gif&seq=1&size=1

BILLY JOHNSON'S BALL

1. Billy Johnson had been married just twelve months and a day
When he sent his friends some letters in which he went to say
As how about two months since, a baby had been sent,
So he gave a ball to celebrate the glorious event.

CHORUS: Lar dar de dar and doodle, doole, diddle,
They played upon the fiddle, up and down the middle.
Such jolly boys and pretty girls, enough to please you all,
Reg'lar brilliant sort of spree was Billy Johnson's Ball.

2. There were the Jone-es-es and the Browns-es and the Smiths-es a score,
The Spriggins-es, the Scroggins-es, and half a dozen more.
In Billy's room there wasn't room to dance a decent jig,
So he went and took a big one at the "Tinder Box and Pig."

3. They introduced the baby and we kiss it twice all round.
Mrs. Johnson was quite overcome, fell fainting to the ground.
But they brought her to with water, and a drop of something in,
And when she felt herself again, the dancing did begin.

4. In and out and round about such a ball was never seen.
And every now and then we'd a drop to drink between.
Bill Johnson he got dancing with all girls he'd find.
Mrs. Johnson grew jealous and declared he was unkind.

5. I drank love to the Jones-es. I drank love to the Browns-es.
I tried to keep on dancing, but 'twas somehow up and downs.
To tell you how it ended I really am not able
For I found myself next morning lying underneath the table.

Subject: RE: Lyrics to Billy Johnstone's Ball?
From:
Date: 30 Dec 00 - 12:48 PM

Thanks Sorcha, I have been searching for these lyrics for several years. A couple of minutes typing a request on the Mudcat Cafe was all it took in the end. I appreciate your assistance, although there may be some who will be less appreciative when they hear me singing the song. Thanks once again.

Subject: RE: Lyrics to Billy Johnstone's Ball?
From: Sorcha
Date: 30 Dec 00 - 01:41 PM

You're welcome. We aim to please!

Subject: Lyr Add: BILLY JOHNSON'S BALL (G W Hunt)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 14 Mar 14 - 11:25 PM

You can see the sheet music at Irish Sheet Music Archives. A few words are different from the broadside; I have boldfaced them.


BILLY JOHNSON'S BALL.
LAR DAR DE DAR AND DOODLE DOODLE DIDDLE.
Words and music by G. W. Hunt; "sung with the greatest success by Fred Coyne."
London: Hopwood & Crew, 1870.

1. Billy Johnson had been married just a twelvemonth and a day
When he sent his friends some letters in which he went to say
As how about just two months since, a baby had been sent,
So he'd give a ball to celebrate the glorious event.

CHORUS: Lar dar de dar and doodle, doodle, diddle,
They played upon the fiddle, and went up and down the middle.
Such jolly boys and pretty girls, enough to please you all,
A reg'lar brilliant sort of spree was Billy Johnson's Ball.

2. There were the Jone-es-es and the Browns-es-es and the Smiths-es-es a score,
The Spriggins-es, the Scroggins-es, and half a dozen more.
In Billy's room there wasn't room to dance a decent jig,
So he went and took a big one at "The Tinder Box and Pig."

3. They introduced the baby and we kissed it twice all round.
Mrs Johnson was quite overcome, fell fainting to the ground.
But they brought her to with water, and a drop of something in,
And when she felt herself again, the dancing did begin.

4. In and out and round about such a ball was never seen.
And every now and then we'd a drop to drink between.
Billy Johnson he got dancing with all the girls he'd find.
Mrs Johnson she grew jealous and declared he was unkind.

5. I drank love to the Jones-es; I drank love to the Browns.
I tried to keep on dancing, but 'twas somehow ups and downs.
To tell you how it ended I really am not able
For I found myself next morning lying underneath the table.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Billy Johnson's Ball
From: Tradsinger
Date: 15 Mar 14 - 04:21 AM

We've just had a thread on this song. thread.cfm?threadid=153906.