I'm a music major at George Mason in Fairfax and we sang that in our voice class:

Dear, dear, what can the matter be?(3x)
Johnny's so long at the fair.

He promised he'd buy me a basket of posies,
a garland of lilies a wreath of red roses,
he promised he'd bring me a bunch of blue ribbons,
to tie up my bonnie brown hair.

And it's oh, dear, what can the matter be?
Dear, dear, what can the matter be,
Oh dear, what can the matter be?
Johnny's so long at the fair.

He promised he'd buy me a beautiful fairing,
a gay bit of lace that the lassies are wearing,
a little straw hat to set off the blue ribbons
that tie up my bonnie brown hair.

(repeat chorus)

laura horstkamp