O DEAR, WHAT CAN THE MATTER BE?

O dear, what can the matter me
And what can the matter be
O what can the matter be
Johnny bydes lang at the fair

He'll buy me a twopenny whistle
He'll but me a threepenny fair
He'll buy me a Bunch o' Blue Ribbons
To tye up my bonny Brown Hair

O saw ye him coming
And saw ye him coming
O saw ye him coming
Hame frae the Newcastle fair
________________________________________________________

Mansfield (St. Clair) MS. (18c; published 1935), 13.
This is the traditional song from which the nursery
version descends; see ODNR 248-9 (no. 280). See also
Paul's Aberdonian version, "Johnny Come Lend Me Your
Fiddle". St. 3 has overtones of the much older song
"Saw Ye Johnny Comin'".

@Scottish @love @parting
filename[ ODEARWHA
TUNE FILE: ODEARWHA
CLICK TO PLAY
MS
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