"Which Way You Goin' Billy?" is a song by the Canadian band the Poppy Family. First released as a single in 1969, it features on the album of the same name and was a chart-topping hit in Canada and Ireland. It was also a significant hit in other parts of the world, reaching #2 on both the U.S. Cash Box and Billboard pop charts.
The song was written by Terry Jacks and the lead vocal is performed by his wife Susan Jacks. The singer asks her husband Billy where he's going, knowing that he is leaving her. She pledges she'll still love him and stay his wife.
In the group's native Canada, the single hit #1 on the CANCON singles chart dated 25 October 1969.[1] It ranked as one of the ten biggest singles of the year (at #9) on the Canadian 'List of Biggest Singles of 1969' chart.[2] In Billboard's ranking of the Top Hits of 1970, it was listed at #26 for the year. It also ranked at #5 on the 'List of RPM Biggest Adult Contemporary Hits of 1969'.[3]
In June 1970, it peaked at #2 on the South African singles chart.[6]
Released in UK, it peaked at #7 on 26 September 1970.[7]
The song was ranked #38 on the List of RPM Cancon number-one singles chart as published in the RPM magazine, dated June 24, 1996.[8]
Allmusic critic Mark Deming states: "If the '70s were supposed to be about having a nice day, "Which Way You Goin' Billy?" shows the Poppy Family were one band waiting for a cloud to blot out all that annoying sunshine..."[9]
Covers
The song was covered by the Trans-Canada Highwaymen for their 2023 album, Explosive Hits Vol. 1.[10]
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