Hi,

"No Sir" was very popular in US (see text above) and widely printed there in the late 1800s. The first extant printed version of "No Sir" was W. F. Shaw's version with music arranged by Miss A. M. Wakefield that calls the song a "Spanish Ballad" which was "Sung by the leading Minstrels." According to Cecil Sharp her arrangement was very popular. He reports a quote from her in Somerset Folk Songs, "I first heard something like this from an American Governess. . . neither words or music were at all complete. I wrote it down and it got a good deal altered. I never regarded it as a folk song." [quote from Mary Wakefield, a talented singer from Kendal, b. 1853]

The print version of "No Sir" was reprinted a number of times and was "very popular." It entered tradition and versions have been titled "Spanish Merchant's Daughter" or "Spanish Captain" and also "Spanish Lady." It was was sung in the US and UK in the early 1900s sometimes mixed with stanzas of "Madam." Since the printed "minstrel" version of "No Sir" was adapted from tradition, the stanzas are from pre1881 tradition. Any version with the exact same order and the "No Sir" chorus is obviously from print. The 1916 version in the Wolford book "The Play-Party in Indiana" is exactly like the 1881 print.

Even though "Oh No John" is very similar and has the "Spanish captain" stanza there are differences. In both versions the suitor asks questions expecting a "No" answer so he can win his love even with a "No" response. When the core stanzas of "No Sir" and "Oh No John"are compared, only have the Spanish Captain stanza is held in common. There are a number of composites and separating the two would be difficult but the print version of No Sir is different. The fundamental "Oh John version was collected by Cecil Sharp in 1907 from William Wooley of Bincombe, Over Stowey, but heavily revised. Sharp compares the melody to Billy Taylor and relates that the theme is similar to Keys of Heaven, another courting song.

Oh No John (first two stanzas from William Wooley of Bincombe in 1907, composite of 4 versions)

On yonder hill there stands a creature,
Who she is I do not know.
I'll go and court her for her beauty;
She must answer Yes or No.
O No John! No John! No John! No!

My father was a Spanish captain -
Went to sea a month ago,
First he kissed me, then he left me -
Bid me always answer No.
O No John! No John! No John! No!

O Madam in your face is beauty,
On your lips red roses grow,
Will you take me for your lover?
Madam, answer Yes or No.
O No John! No John! No John! No!

0 Madam, I will give you jewels,
I will make you rich and free,
1 will give you silken dresses;
Madam, will you marry me?
Oh No, John! No John! No, John! No!

O Madam since you are so cruel,
And that you do scorn me so,
If I may not be your lover,
Madam, will you let me go?
O No John! No John! No John! No!

O hark! I hear the church bells ringing,
Will you come to be my wife?
Or dear Madam, have you settled
To live single all your life?
O No John! No John! No John! No!

Woolsey's original version has a "garter" stanza and is much racier which is why Sharp changed it. Here's Woolsey's original text from Cecil Sharp Manuscript Collection (at Clare College, Cambridge) (CJS2/9/1285):

Oh No John

On yonder hill there stands a creature,
Who she is I do not know.
I'll go and court her for her beauty;
She must answer Yes or No.
O No John! No John! No John! No!

On her bosom were bunches of posies,
On her breast where flowers grow,
If I've a chance to touch that posy
She must answer Yes or No.
O No John! No John! No John! No!

My father was a Spanish captain -
Went to sea but a month ago,
And the very last time we kissed and parted,
He always bid me answer No.
O No John! No John! No John! No!

"Madam, shall I tie your garter?
Tie it a little above your knee,
If my hand should slip a little farther
Would you think it amiss of me?"
O No John! No John! No John! No!

One night they went to bed we together
There they lay till cocks did crow
Then they sport till the daylight was breaking
Now it's time for us to go.
O No John! No John! No John! No!
****

Richie