| Author | Topic: Add: O No John | |
| dmcg | Posted - 21 Sep 04 - 10:15 am | |
On yonder hill there stands a creature, Who she is I do not know. I'll go and court her for her beauty; She must answer Yes or No. O No John! No John! No John! No! My father was a Spanish captain - Went to sea a month ago, First he kissed me, then he left me - Bid me always answer No. O No John! No John! No John! No! O Madam in your face is beauty, On your lips red roses grow, Will you take me for your lover? Madam, answer Yes or No. O No John! No John! No John! No! O Madam since you are so cruel, And that you do scorn me so, If I may not be your lover, Madam, will you let me go? O No John! No John! No John! No! O hark! I hear the church bells ringing, Will you come to be my wife? Or dear Madam, have you settled To live single all your life? O No John! No John! No John! No! Source: Singing Together, Autumn 1965, BBC Publications Notes: This is given as 'Somerset Folk Song' and is taken from Cecil Sharp's Collected Folk Songs. Two versions from Dorset are given in 'Marrowbones' under the name 'No Sir No' (Hammond nos D 417 and D 880). The verses for them are given below. Pretty maid walking in the garden, Who she is I do not know, I'll go court her for her beauty, Let the answer be Yes! or No! (Chorus) O dear O! No! Sir No! Still her answer to me was No! Madam I am come a-couring, Hoping your favour I shall gain If you'll kindly entertain me, Perhaps some day I'll call again. My husband is a Spanish captain Left me to mourn three weeks ago. The very last time we kissed and parted He told me - Always answer No! Lady walking in the garden, No aloner might you be If I should wlak along beside you Would that be any harm to thee? Stooping down to tie her garter, Just a little above her knee, If my hand should slide any farther Would that be any harm to theee? So they lay all night together, Till the cocks began to crow Now the daylight is appearing Open your arms and let me go. There's one more thing I have to ask you That's before I let you go, Did you ever sleep more sweeter, Was you ever cuddled so? Edited By dmcg - 22-Sep-2004 09:13:03 AM | ||
| Jon Freeman | Posted - 22 Sep 04 - 03:09 am | |
Dave, I thought in your second one it was "till his cock began to grow"... I'll try to post an abc for the tune I know to that version tommorrow. | ||
| dmcg | Posted - 22 Sep 04 - 08:40 am | |
The Hammond lyrics follow the form I wrote above. Your version sounds like a more recent introduction from a boisterous session to me! | ||
| dmcg | Posted - 14 Sep 08 - 07:24 am | |
I've just been reading a George Butterworth version published in "Folk Songs from Sussex" (Stainer and Bell, 1974 SBN 85249 332 0), which has these lyrics: Yonder stands a lovely creature, Who she is I do not know; I'll go court here for her beauty, Let her answer "Yes" or "no". "Madam I am come to court you, If your favour I can gain: First your hand, love, then your welcome, P'rhaps, that I'll not come again." "Madam, I have gold and silver, Madam, I have house and land: Madam, I have the world of pleasure, All to be at your command." "What care I for gold and silver, What care I for house and land? What care I for the world of pleasure, So long as I've got a nice young man?" "Ripest apples soonest rotten, Hottest love it soon gets cold: Young men's words are soon forgotten, So, pray, young man, don't speak too bold!" "After nettles then come roses, After night then in comes day: After a false love then a true love, So we pass our time away." | ||