I Know Where I'm Going

I know where I'm going
And I know who's going with me
I know who I love
But the dee know who I'll marry.

I have stockings of silk
And shoes of bright green leather
Combs to buckle my hair
And a ring for every finger.

Feather beds are soft
And painted rooms are bonnie
But I would trade them all
For my handsome, winsome Johnny.

Some say he's bad
But I believe he's bonnie
Fairest of them all
Is my handsome, winsome Johnny.



Dee= variously rendered; often 'the dear' which makes little sense. Often 'my dear' which makes a little more.

Dee is apparently a form of Sidhe ("shee" - the Irish old gods, ergo, 'God knows who...'), however, which does make sense.

"Some say that he's bad" was always traditionally "Some say he's black." Often 'he's poor' in commercial recordings. I sing 'bad' as holding the early meaning. Silber uses that as well. Oddly, for such a well-known song, I find practically nothing in print or on the web. Kalb gives "from County Antrim" and that 'the dear knows' equates to 'Goodness knows.'

I'd appreciate any additional info. Obviously, see "Leaboy's Lassie" (Lichtbob's Lassie") first.

See http://www.mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=6586

http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=25006#449573
http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=37501#1485719