Origin: Billy Don't You Weep for Me (Nic Jones?)

Subject: Nic Jones/Unfortunate Sally
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Apr 02 - 01:36 AM

There are several copies of Unfortunate Sally or Billy don't you cry for me (Recorded by Nic Jones on Unearthed as Billy don't you weep for me) in the Bodleian Ballad library. Most of them use the stange phrase 'she then committed susanside! in the water butt'

Here is one example

Can anyone shed light on this? (The exclamation mark is part of the printed text).

Subject: RE: Nic Jones/Unfortunate Sally
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 04 Apr 02 - 05:10 PM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Nic Jones/Unfortunate Sally
From: Charley Noble
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 09:09 AM

Probably a common play on words for "suicide" but that's just an easy guess.

---

Go here: Lyr Add: UNFORTUNATE SALLY / BILLY DON'T YOU CRY..--JoeClone, 17-Mar-2010.

Subject: 'Billy don't you weep for me'. Info req'
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Dec 02 - 04:10 PM

Hi, Can anyone tell me where Nic Jones sourced the song 'Billy don't you weep for me'or anything about it? It is on his FROM THE DEVIL A STRANGER LP. In it it refers to Jack Sheppard: is this the famous 18th century thief, or an actor or playwright? Any help very welcome. Thank you. David

Subject: RE: 'Billy don't you weep for me'. Info req'
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 15 Dec 02 - 04:32 PM

He got the text from a broadside, so far as I remember. There are a few editions at Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads, including

Unfortunate Sally or Billy don't you cry for me Printed 1833 and 1841 by T. Birt, 39, Great St. Andrew street, Seven Dials, London. Firth b.25(51)

Jack Sheppard will have been the 1825 melodrama Jack Sheppard, The Housebreaker, or, London in 1724 by W.T. Moncrieff, I should think.

Subject: RE: 'Billy don't you weep for me'. Info req'
From: pavane
Date: 15 Dec 02 - 04:40 PM

I was interested in the concept of 'SUSANCIDE' which I rememer is quoted in one of the broadside versions. SALLYCIDE may have been more appropriate.

Subject: RE: 'Billy don't you weep for me'. Info req'
From: Stewie
Date: 15 Dec 02 - 08:04 PM

Malcolm's memory is correct. The note on the album sleeve states simply: '(Anon/Jones) My setting of an old broadside. Tuning DGDGBbD'.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: 'Billy don't you weep for me'. Info req'
From: GUEST,David
Date: 16 Dec 02 - 03:15 PM

Thanks for your help everyone. Much appreciated! David

Subject: Lyr Add: UNFORTUNATE SALLY / BILLY DON'T YOU CRY..
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 11:49 AM

From the Bodleian collection, Firth b.25(51):


UNFORTUNATE SALLY
Or
BILLY DON'T YOU CRY FOR ME.

Now Sally, where are you going, that you are dress'd so gay?
I'm sure I have not asked you to take a walk today.
You have not asked me, well indeed! That's tidy cheek of you.
One would think there was no more young chaps, but I've got a dozen or two.
Oh! little Billy, don't you cry for me.
I'm going to St. James's Park my Cousin Joe to see.

Your Cousin Joe, why, who is he? But he's a soldier, I can tell,
For I know you're fond of lobsters, both raw and boiled as well.
My Cousin Joe's a guardsman, and he is a handsome chap,
For he wears such find mustachios, and a stunning hairy cap.
Oh! little Billy, don't you cry for me.
I'm going to St. James's Park my Cousin Joe to see.

A swaddy! what's the use of him? He never can keep you.
You'll have to work from morn till night; that's what you'll have to do.
You must make shirts at a penny each, or else stand at the tub,
Or take my word, there's many a day you'll go very short of grub.
Oh then! Sally, you'll have to cry for me,
So hook it to your Cousin Joe, and sit upon his knee.

Now in about a twelvemonth after, Sally came back to me.
She said that she was sorry she ever had that spree.
She wanted me to take her back. Says I, it is no go.
Do you think I'm such a noodle? Go back to Cousin Joe.
Oh no! Sally, you can't come over me
For I see you have got a babby to dance upon your knee.

Bill, I never thought you'd serve me so. You'll really drive me mad.
I'll have you up before the beak and swear you are its dad,
And when you get before the bench, they will not let you speak.
You'll have to keep the young 'un, or pay half a crown a week.
Oh, cruel Billy how can you serve me so?
I'm sure the child belongs to you and not to Cousin Joe.

Next week she got a summons, but she found it was no go,
For the magistrate decided that the child belonged to Joe,
So she went into Bill's back yard, and quick the door she shut,
And she then committed susanside! in the water butt.
So all young ladies take advice of me:
Beware of soldier cousins, or you'll get a baby on your knee.

Subject: RE: Origin: Billy Don't You Weep for Me (Nic Jones?)
From: Sugwash
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 08:30 AM

A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English


susancide
. Self-murder: half-wits' joc.:—1909 (Ware). Ex Suey, pet form of Susan, and suicide.

Subject: Billy Don't You Weep For Me - Nic Jones
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Apr 10 - 08:51 PM

Can anyone play this? I heard it's in DGDGBbD tuning, but the intro trill I have worked out as this

------------------------
--0^1^0----0^1^0--
----------3----------3-
------------------------
--5----------5---------
------------------------

^ = hammer on/pull off

This is quite a stretch and seems odd, is it correct or am i missing something?

Cheers,

Mike

Subject: RE: Billy Don't You Weep For Me - Nic Jones
From: JHW
Date: 07 Apr 10 - 07:26 AM

I'm a huge fan of Nic Jones, no surprise there, long ago singing Annan Water he was my introduction to ballads.
I certainly sing songs from his singing but, and this may be no help, as with every song I sing, I learn the melody and the words then if I think it needs an accompaniment, invent one.

Subject: RE: Billy Don't You Weep For Me - Nic Jones
From: Howard Jones
Date: 07 Apr 10 - 08:31 AM

That is the tuning given in the sleeve notes to "From the Devil to a Stranger". Listening to his version on "Unearthed" he appears to be playing in F, so it's probably capo'd up a few frets which would make the stretch more manageable.

Subject: RE: Origin: Billy Don't You Weep for Me (Nic Jones?)
From: GUEST,Olly
Date: 29 Jan 12 - 06:44 PM

Ill have the tab up in a week or 2 for the tenor guitar tuned GDGD