Also a version called "JOHNNY BE FAIR"


Johnny be fine and Johnny be fair, wants me for to wed
And I would marry Johnny but me father up and said,
"I'm sorry to tell you, daughter, but your mother never knew,
But Johnny is a son of mine, and so he's kin to you."

Well, Willie be fine and Willie be fair, wants me for to wed
And I would marry Willie but me father up and said,
"I'm sorry to tell you, daughter, but your mother never knew,
But Willie is a son of mine, and so he's kin to you."

Well, Billy be fine and Billy be fair, wants me for to wed
And I would marry Billy but me father up and said,
"I'm sorry to tell you, daughter, but your mother never knew,
But Billy is a son of mine, and so he's kin to you."

Well, never was there a lass so sad and sorry as I was.
The boys in town are all me kin, me father is the cause.
If I should thus continue, I shall die a single miss--
I think I'll go to mother and complain to her of this.

"Daughter, haven't I taught you to forgive and to forget.
Your father may have sown his oats, but still you need not fret.
Your father may be the cause to all the boys in town, but still
He's not the one who sired you, so marry who you will."


I was told this was a traditional Irish song, but I have also heard that Buffy Sainte Marie wrote it. I still haven't been able to confirm the song's origins one way or the other.