Billy Boys

The Billy Boys is a loyalist song from Belfast, sung to the tune of "Marching Through Georgia." [ [http://www.scotshistoryonline.co.uk/rednecks/rednecks.html Scottish Hillbillies and Rednecks, Scotland - UK History ] ] It originated in the 1930s as the signature song of a Glasgow street gang led by Billy Fullerton [ [http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=822932004 The Scotsman ] ] and later reflected the long running sectarian divide in the city. It is associated in particular with Rangers football club, and Linfield F.C., though variants are sung by fans of many other British clubs with their local rivals cast as the enemy.

The song is at the centre of the controversy surrounding "Ninety-minute Bigots"—an expression allegedly coined by Rangers chairman Sir David Murray—among Rangers fans. "Ninety-minute Bigots do not hold sectarian beliefs but nonetheless sing songs at football matches which are sectarian, simply to join in with the rest of the crowd." [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4264669.stm|title='First steps' on end to bigotry| accessdate=2007-01-14|date=2005-02-14|publisher='BBC News' ] Rangers have adopted several measures to tackle this behaviour with Murray speaking out against it on many occasions. In June 2006, Rangers were ordered by UEFA to make a public announcement at all home games, prohibiting the singing of the song. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/5064472.stm BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Rangers | Rangers told to axe 'Billy Boys' ] ] This is one of a number of directives aimed at stamping out sectarianism.

Background

The term 'Billy Boys' is usually assumed to refer to "King Billy" (William III of Orange), but has its origins in the 1920s, as the signature tune of a Protestant street gang led by Fullerton during a time of upsurge in gang membership and violent crime in Glasgow. The "Billy Boys" often had fights with Catholic gangs such as the "Norman Conks". Fullerton was a former member of the British Fascists, and was awarded a medal for strike-breaking during the 1926 General Strike. [ [http://gdl.cdlr.strath.ac.uk/redclyde/redclyeve23.htm Red Clydeside: Resistance to fascism ] ]

The song's geographic roots relate to Bridgeton Cross in Bridgeton, an area of Glasgow historically associated with the city's Protestant population, and with Scottish unionism. "Brigton" is the old Scots form of Bridgeton. "Fenian" in the context of this song is understood by some to refer to Irish republicans, and by others to all Irish Roman Catholics—the BBC website describes it as an "anti-Roman Catholic song". [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/uk/359039.stm BBC News | UK | The bitter divide ] ] The highly controversial song remains popular among loyalists today particularly with some supporters of Rangers.

"Billy Boys" is the title of a book on the history of Orangeism in Scotland. [ [http://www.the-twelfth.org.uk/billy_boys.htm The Billy Boys ] ] It is also the title of a painting by Jack Vettriano, although in this case the painting has no obvious connection with the song or loyalism. [ [http://www.vettriano-art.com/billyboys.html Billy Boys by Jack Vettriano art print - art poster artist vettriano ] ]

Lyric

:"Hullo, Hullo":"We are the Billy Boys":"Hullo, Hullo":"You'll know us by our noise":"We're up to our knees in fenian blood":"Surrender or you'll die":"For we are":"The Brigton Derry Boys"

In the final line the word "Brigton" is often substituted for the name of the singer's hometown/estate. Example, "Govan Derry Boys"

Alternative versions

The song is used with slightly different lyrics in other football grounds in the United Kingdom.

For example, some Chelsea F.C. fans sing::"Hello, Hello":"We are the Chelsea Boys":"Hello, Hello":"We are the Chelsea Boys":"And if you are a Tottenham fan:"Surrender or you'll die":"We all follow the Chelsea "

The fifth line will usually feature the team regarded as the fiercest rivals of the club supported by the singers. Fans may also substitute the name of their town or estate in the second and fourth lines. For example, Q.P.R. fans from the White City Estate sing these lines as:"We are the "White City" boysor they use:"For we are the Billy, Billy boys."

Aston Villa sing::"Hello, Hello":"Its up the Holte we go":"Hello, Hello":"Its up the Holte we go":"And if you are a City fan":"Surrender or you die":"We all follow the Villa!"

Hearts sing::"Hullo, Hullo We Are The Gorgie Boys":"Hullo Hullo You`ll Know Us By Our Noise":"Were Up To Our Knees In fenian Blood":"Surrender Or You`ll Die":"For We Are The Gorgie Billy Boys"

Manchester United fans use the lyrics::"We are the "Busby Boys":"And if you are a City fan, Surrender or you'll die."

Swansea City AFC fans use the lyrics::"We are the "Swansea Boys":"And if you are a Cardiff fan, Surrender or you'll die."

Middlesbrough FC fans use the lyrics:"We are the Boro Boys":"We are the Ayresome Angels and we never miss a match, we all follow the Boro."

References