Hi,

One of the earliest collected verses of the Irish-Scotch "pretty boy" versions appears in "Poems" by Mary Boddington, 1836, p. 313. She gives only one stanza and writes several more. According to Boddington:

"The first verse belongs to an old ballad, of which I could never find any more; the air, without being of remarkable beauty, is soft and characteristic: I do not know its Irish name."

"Oh, where were you all day?"
Irish--Air

"Oh, where were you all day,
My own pretty boy?
Oh, where were you all day,
My comfort and joy?
Fishing and fowling, mother: make my bed soon,
I've a pain in my heart, and I fain would lie down."

* * * *

Richie