| Author | Topic: Add: Riddles | |
| dmcg | Posted - 22 Nov 05 - 06:11 pm | |
If you will answer my questions well, Sing ninety-nine and ninety, I'll take you off with me to dwell, And you the weavering bonty. Oh what is whiter far than milk? Sing ninety-nine and ninety, And what is softer far than silk? And you the weavering bonty. Oh, snow is whiter far than milk, Sing ninety-nine and ninety, And down is softer far than silk, And me the weavering bonty. Oh, what is louder than a horn? Sing ninety-nine and ninety, And what is sharper than a thorn? And you the weavering bonty. Oh, thunder's louder than a horn, Sing ninety-nine and ninety, And lightning's sharper than a thorn. And me the weavering bonty. Oh, what red fruit September grows? Sing ninety-nine and ninety, And what thing round the whole world goes? And you the weavering bonty. The apple in September grows. Sing ninety-nine and ninety, And air around the whole world goes, And me the weavering bonty. Oh, you have answered my questions well, Sing ninety-nine and ninety, I'll take you off with me to dwell, And you the weavering bonty. Source: Singing Together, Spring1968, BBC Publications Notes: Identified as American. The song is clearly related to a number of the Child ballads, but which one is the best fit? At the moment, I'm going for Captain Wedderburn, but all opinions welcomed. | ||
| Ed | Posted - 22 Nov 05 - 09:19 pm | |
My first association on reading it was: "I Gave My Love a Cherry." The Traditional Ballad Index makes an interesting point about that song's relation to Child's Captain Wedderburn. | ||
| Malcolm Douglas |
Posted - 23 Nov 05 - 03:12 am | |
Riddles Wisely Expounded (Child 1, Roud 161) for sure. I can't place this particular example, which presumably wasn't available to Bronson. | ||
| masato sakurai | Posted - 24 Nov 05 - 05:53 pm | |
Texually Bronson's variants 5 & 6 ("The Devil's Nine Questions") have similarities. See Bronson Child Ballads: Riddles Wisely Expounded. | ||