Lyr Req: Billy in the Lowground

Subject: Billy in the Lowground
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Mar 02 - 07:14 PM

Are there any traditional lyrics known for this song?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Billy in the Lowground
From: Sorcha
Date: 29 Mar 02 - 07:22 PM

Not that I know of, and I didn't find any with a Google search.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Billy in the Lowground
From: Louie Roy
Date: 29 Mar 02 - 09:18 PM

It's a hoedown and quite a few quare dances used to be called when this tune was played,butI never heard any words persue to the tune itself.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Billy in the Lowground
From: masato sakurai
Date: 29 Mar 02 - 09:52 PM

Info on the tune is HERE from The Fiddler's Companion. Leadbelly's "Billy in the Lowlands" is in Negro Folk Songs AS Sung by Lead Belly (1936), which I don't have.

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Billy in the Lowground
From: Les B
Date: 30 Mar 02 - 01:03 AM

I wonder if "Billy in the low GROUND" is different from Leadbelly's "Billy in the lowLANDS" ? I haven't seen the Leadbelly song, but wonder if it's some sort of version of the "Golden Vanity," "Lowlands of Holland" body of songs?

"Billy in the low ground" is on a lot of the old time records by people like Burnett & Rutherford, the Kessinger Brothers, etc., and today's fiddlers play it too, and I've never heard any words to it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Billy in the Lowground
From: masato sakurai
Date: 30 Mar 02 - 01:41 AM

Leadbelly's "Billy In The Low Ground" is on Leadbelly Vol 4 1935 - 1938 (DOCD-5594).

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Billy in the Lowground
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Mar 02 - 11:54 AM

I play a version of this song on guitar that my father learned from a fiddling friend many years ago. One of the reasons I wanted to find lyrics is that I'm curious what the title refers to.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Billy in the Lowground
From: Giac
Date: 30 Mar 02 - 07:34 PM

GUEST -- if you'll go back up to Masato's first post, and click on the word, HERE, it will take you to a good deal of information about the song, including to what the title may refer.

Mary