Billy Boys

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The Billy Boys is a loyalist song from Glasgow and Belfast, sung to the tune of "Marching Through Georgia."^[1] It originated in the 1930s as the signature song of a Glasgow street gang led by Billy Fullerton^[2] 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."^[3] 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.^[4] This is one of a number of directives aimed at stamping out sectarianism.

Contents 1 Background 2 Lyric 3 Alternative versions 4 References

[edit] Background

The term 'Billy Boys' is usually assumed to refer to "King Billy" (William III of England), 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.^[5]

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".^[6] 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.^[7] 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.^[8]

[edit] 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"

[edit] Alternative versions

The lyrics are also heard in football grounds across England. 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 boys

or they use

For we are the Billy, Billy boys.

Manchester United fans use the line

We are the Busby Boys

here, in honour of their former manager Sir Matt Busby. Also incorporated is the line

' And if you are a City fan, Surrender or you'll die - referring to fans of local rivals Manchester City.

[edit] References