The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #36220   Message #671994
Posted By: Jim Dixon
19-Mar-02 - 12:09 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: M-Hm Song
Subject: Lyr Add: THE BONNIE WEE WINDOW (trad. Ozark)
Mac Tattie: Yes, it does help, because I was able to find "Bonnie Wee Window" in DigiTrad here. It has a clickable link to play a midi file.

I found another version at The Max Hunter Folk Song Collection. Interestingly, this is an American version, collected in the Ozarks. At that site you can see the sheet music, play a midi file, or listen to the field recording.

BONNIE WEE WINDOW
(As sung by Mrs. Goldie Schott in Mondell, Arkansas on April 3, 1958.)

There was a brave lass and her name it was Nell.
She lived in the house where her granny did dwell.
The house it was small and the windows were less.
It had but four panes and one needed a glass.

CHORUS: Oh, the bonnie wee window, the nice little window,
The prettiest window that ever you saw.

Oh, it happened one night that grandma went to her bed.
John, the clever sweetheart that young Nellie had,
Came over the hill his sweetheart to see
And under the window, plainly talked he
Of the …

The lovers sat talking. Not much had been said
Till grandma cried, "Nellie, come to your bed."
"Yes, Grandma, I'm coming," cried Nellie, in pain.
"So, fare you well, Johnny. Come next night again
To the…

Says Nellie to Johnny, "Don't take it amiss.
Before you leave me, just grant me one kiss."
With eager desire he thrust his head through.
What is there in love that lovers won't do
At the…?

Three kisses he gave her and sweet was the smack,
When to his surprise, couldn't get his head back.
He raved and he caved (?). He screamed and he cursed,
And Nellie sat laughing as though she would burst
With his head in the window …

Grandma, hearing the noise, sprang on the floor
And seizing the poker, she rushed through the door.
And across his poor back she gave such a whack
That another one like it would've broken his back.
With his head in the window …

He raved and he caved (?) and he cursed the old dame.
With his head in the window he had to remain
Till the sash it gave way and the glass it did break
And Johnny went home with the frame 'round his neck
Of the…