Lyr Req: Billy Johnstone's Ball

Subject: Billy Johnstone's Ball
From:
Date: 08 Apr 00 - 10:25 AM

Can anyone help me with a song called Billy Johnstone's Ball? The only words I know are:

They were doing the La - La Di Da Routin' toutin' diddle dum Playin' 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

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Billy Johnstone's Ball
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 08 Apr 00 - 02:23 PM

There are some copies in the Bodleian Library Broadside collection;  click here for a large image.  I've also heard a very similar version, called Mrs. Merry's Ball, recorded by Muckram Wakes back in the 1970s.

Malcolm