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, Dundee F.C., Heart of Midlothian F.C., Airdrie and Linfield F.C., though variants are sung by fans of many other British clubs with their local rivals cast as the enemy. For other uses, see Loyalist (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Glasgow (disambiguation). ... This article is about the capital city of Northern Ireland. ... Marching Through Georgia (sometimes called Marching Thru Georgia) is a marching song written by Henry Clay Work in 1865, referencing U.S. Maj. ... The 1930s were described as an abrupt shift to more radical and conservative lifestyles, as countries were struggling to find a solution to the Great Depression, also known as the [[. In East Asia, the rise of militarism occurred. ... Sectarianism is an adherence to a particular sect or party or denomination, it also usually involves a rejection of those not a member of ones sect. ... For other uses, see Rangers F.C. (disambiguation). ... Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football team based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. ... Heart of Midlothian F.C. (most commonly referred to as Hearts) are a professional football club and are a football team in Edinburgh, Scotland who play in the Scottish Premier League. ... Airdrie can refer to: Places Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, in Scotland Airdrie, Alberta, in Canada Football (Soccer) Clubs Airdrieonians the defunct team from North Lanarkshire (Scotland) Airdrie United their re-incarnation ... Linfield redirects here. ...

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. Dodgy David Murray Sir David Edward Murray (born Ayr, 14 October 1951) is a Scottish entrepreneur, businessman and Chairman of Rangers Football Club. ... The Union Européenne de Football Association or Union of European Football Associations in English, almost always referred to by the acronym UEFA (pronounced (you-AY-fuh) or (oo-Ay-fuh) or ), is the administrative and controlling body for European football. ...

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] William III (14 November 1650 – 8 March 1702) was the Prince of Orange from his birth, Stadtholder of the main provinces of the Dutch Republic from 28 June 1672, King of England and King of Ireland from 13 February 1689, and King of Scots (under the name William II) from... The 1920s is sometimes referred to as the Jazz Age or the Roaring Twenties, usually when speaking about the United States. ... The British Fascists were the name subsequently taken by the British Fascisti in an attempt to Anglicise them. ... The Subsidised Mineowner - Poor Beggar! from the Trade Union Unity Magazine (1925) Foraging for coal in the strike Tyldesley miners outside the Miners Hall during the strike The UK General Strike of 1926 lasted nine days, from 3 May 1926 to 12 May 1926. ...

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 Loyalism. "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. Bridgeton is a district to the south-east of Glasgow city centre. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... In general, a loyalist is an individual who is loyal to the powers that be. ... Fenian is a term used since the 1850s for Irish nationalists (who oppose British rule in Ireland). ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ...

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] The Orange Order is a Protestant fraternal organisation largely based in the province of Ulster, Ireland and in western Scotland but which has a worldwide membership. ... Jack Vettriano (born 17 November 1951 Fife) is a Scottish painter. ...

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 lyrics are also heard in football grounds across England. For example some Chelsea F.C. fans sing: For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... Chelsea Football Club (also known as The Blues or previously The Pensioners) are an English professional football club based in west London. ...

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 Current season Tottenham Hotspur Football Club is an English professional football club which currently plays in the Premier League. ... Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English football club, based at Shepherds Bush in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in West London. ... For other uses, see White City. ...

We are the White City boys

or they use

For we are the Billy, Billy boys.

Manchester United fans use the line Manchester Uniteds emblem Manchester United F.C. (often abbreviated to Man United or just Man U, pronounced man-yoo) is an English football club based at Old Trafford in Greater Manchester. ...

We are the Busby Boys

here, in honour of their former manager Sir Matt Busby. Also incorporated is the line Sir Matthew Busby (Orbiston, Glasgow May 26, 1909 - January 20, 1994) was a football player and manager, most noted for his spell managing Manchester United F.C. during the 1950s and 1960s As a player, Busby enjoyed spells at Manchester City F.C and Liverpool F.C. and played at...

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

Dundee fans use the line For other uses, see Dundee (disambiguation). ...

We are the Dundee Derry Boys

making them the only club in Scotland, other than Rangers, to retain an Irish reference in their version.

References