No, the songs are about a fool, played by various performers on the stage in the British Isles, America and Australia. Click on the link above to a copy in the National Library of Australia, or enter Billy Barlow in the Bodleian Library website and get a bunch, including Billy Barlow's Marriage, his trip to Paris, etc. Comments about people of the day (Queen Vic. and Albert, Jenny Lind, Napoleon III, various lords and ladies, etc).

Confusion is rife, not only about the performers of these songs, but somehow with the American Billy Barlow of the Civil War, the bush Billy Barlow of Australia (Banjo Paterson), the cowhand Billy Barlow, the Billy Barlow shot by Pat Garrett in New Mexico, etc. as well at the Cutty Wren changling Billy Barlow which is in the DT.