Poppy Family - Which Way You Goin' Billy (1969)

Note: Click "Show More" for lyrics. This performance is from the 1970 TV show "The Darin Invasion" hosted by Bobby Darin.

Group History (From Wikipedia)

The Poppy Family was a late 1960s and early 1970s Canadian pop music group, based in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Seventeen year old Susan Pesklevits (b. 19 August 1948, d. 25 April 2022) met Terry Jacks (b. 29 March 1944) in the middle 1960s while she was a regular performer on a national teen TV show called Music Hop as well as many other national TV shows. She later called Jacks to accompany her on rhythm guitar for one of her live performances and eventually, with the addition of Craig McCaw on lead guitar, Susan decided to dedicate all her time to the trio. Craig McCaw introduced Satwant Singh on tablas and they became the Poppy Family. The name was chosen when Susan, Terry and Craig were searching for a new name and came across it in the dictionary. Susan and Terry were married in 1967 and Susan Pesklevits became Susan Jacks.

With Susan Jacks on vocals and Terry Jacks on rhythm guitar, along with musicians Craig McCaw (guitar/sitar) and Satwant Singh (tablas/drums), the group recorded their first album, from which came their best known song "Which Way You Goin' Billy?" (No. 1 in Canada and No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charts) which was a worldwide hit. Their second and last album Poppy Seeds was recorded with studio musicians after Terry Jacks released Craig and Satwant from the group. Later hits included "That's Where I Went Wrong" (#9, also #27 US), 'Where Evil Grows' (#6, also #45 US), and `Good Friends?'(#10, also "Bubbling Under" the US chart). In the United States "Which Way You Goin' Billy?" and "That's Where I Went Wrong" were both Top 10 Adult Contemporary chart hits as well; "Where Evil Grows" and "Good Friends?" both also hit the US AC chart. The Poppy Family's first two Canadian releases were "Beyond the Clouds" (#75 in 1968), "What Can The Matter Be?" (#53 in 1969). Other releases included "I Was Wondering" (#10 in 1971, also US #100) and "No Good To Cry" (#8 in 1972), "I'll See You There" and "Tryin'".

At their career peak, Susan performed "Which Way You Goin' Billy?" on Bobby Darin's 1970 television variety special, The Darin Invasion. They also appeared on other variety shows including Rollin' On The River with Kenny Rogers and The George Kirby Special. Although Susan enjoyed performing live, Terry was not interested and their career ultimately suffered.

The "Which Way You Goin' Billy?" single earned the group two 1970 Gold Leaf (Juno) Awards as well as two Moffatt Awards in 1970. The Juno Award is Canada's equivalent of the Grammy Award. The single version of "Which Way You Goin' Billy" went on to sell a total of more than 3½ million worldwide, and was awarded a gold disc.[1]

Terry Jacks decided to drop the Poppy Family name in early 1973 and Susan and Terry recorded two solo albums, Terry Jacks' Seasons in the Sun and Susan Jacks' I Thought of You Again. Susan left the marriage later that same year.

Lyrics:

Which Way You Goin', Billy (T. Jacks / London Records, Inc)

Which way you goin', Billy?
Can I go too?
Which way you goin', Billy?
Can I go with you?

I really love you, Billy,
And all this time,
I thought you loved me, Billy,
And you were mine.

I'm gonna miss you, Billy,
And though I'm trying,
I'm hurtin' so bad, Billy,
I can't help crying.

You are my whole, babe,
My heart and my soul, babe.
I'd have nothing to show, babe,
If you should go away.

You are my whole, babe,
My heart and my soul, babe.
I'd have nothing to show, babe,
If you should go.

Which way you goin', Billy?
Or need I ask?
'Cause you don't want me, Billy.
You're free at last.

I won't forget you, Billy,
For all my life.
I'll always love you, Billy.
I'll stay your wife.

You are my whole, babe,
My heart and my soul, babe.
I'd have nothing to show, babe,
If you should go away.

You are my whole, babe,
My heart and my soul, babe.
I'd have nothing to show, babe,
If you should go.

You are my whole, babe,
My heart and my soul, babe.
I'd have nothing to show, babe,
If you should go.

[davidvernon]

this song is the reason i feel sad for all the kids growing up now days. they have no idea what those days were like. what a song. they do not make them like that anymore. if they did this world would be a better place to live in

[lindamiles]

I have loved this song since it first came out . .70s was a glorious time for everything

[colinbamblett]

Brilliant song .I was 15 back in 1969.. not heard this in years.. love it. ❤️

[junevanstaden]

I have loved this song from the first time hearing it . Beautiful ❤️

[osmanrashidochanda]

I last heard this song in 1979. I was only 13 years old. I can't stop tears of nostalgia. Thank you YouTube.

[curtisnash]

My Mom pretty much raised the three of us on her own, and she played this song to death when it was first released.  We would all sing along, and I know all the words to this day.  Because of the subject matter, which I now know strongly affected my Mom, and remembering how we all used to sing at the top of our lungs makes me very misty-eyed.  God Bless Ms. Susan Jacks.

[nydeco]

Always loved this song. I can still remember going with my big sister to the neighborhood record store to buy this record on 45. It was 1969, I was 6 years old and she was 10. The store used to stack 45's of the current popular songs heard on the radio in little slots on the wall. You would ask for one and then take it to the counter to pay. Fond memories of growing up in Brooklyn in the 1960's.

[RobertLaberge]

1:03 the classic Abba vocal sound they tried to reproduce. Susan was there first.

[cherylwilliams]

I can remember my mom and aunts singing this song

[dangermain]

I'll never forget the time I met Susan at a Saskatoon Hilltops Junior football game with then husband Ted Dushinski ( a former Hilltop and Saskatchewan Roughrider )..she was gorgeous, and that afternoon she was just a fan and so natural and down to earth..I've always been a big Susan Jacks fan..she was one of the best singers in the the world, with a fantastic voice.. I have many of her songs that I listen to quite often.. miss you Susan !!

[allisongaines]

Great song! I loved it when it came out in 1970. I was 12.

[David-Vancity]

A #1 song in the group's (and my) hometown of Vancouver B.C. on radio station CKLG. It was #1 on the charts for the weeks of September 19, September 26, and October 3, 1969.

[billlackey]

Silence one month shy to turn in 15 years old june 22nd when i moved to tucson arizona and i had a lot of italian beautiful woman that i left behind and i imagine i would have had a big family by now if i would have stayed in waterbury connecticut because everybody says oh you know who i ended up with i married this one or i married that one cuz it was only 200, 000 people population so i would have been like a big named back there❤

[haroldgillette]

I was on the high school baseball team, and I carried my transistor on the bus to road games, and this song so reminds me of those days.

[KeithMoore-sj]

reminds me of being on holiday with my friend and his parents in Breen Sands Met a girl from Kent, Seven Oaks I think . Her name was Jackie . Went to see her once, we spent more time with her mum than her, I guess she meant more to me than I did her. hey ho . Still lovely memories . Its funny how songs have that power, probably more than anything else

[bobbycollins]

I am listening in 2025 from Texas. This brings back memories of college.

[AlbertoParedes-vw]

Tenía 4 años de edad cuando mis hermanas y mi mamá escuchaban esta canción en la radio en la ciudad de Lima en PERÚ lo recuerdo muy bien 😂😊❤

[mikebatt]

Susan has a beautiful voice. Sad to hear she has passed.

[Lisa-qrl]

My brother Billy and cousin MaryLu sena, age 9 disappeared in 1979, age 11 my brother Billy was my moms favorite child, this song came out and shed cry but i do think it helped her cope 😢

[FutureNotFixed]

When God made music. He chooses his singers....