To Thread - Forum Home

The Mudcat Café TM
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=49468
11 messages

The Tailors Bonnie? or Ninety Nine and N

12 Jul 02 - 02:45 AM (#746978)
Subject: The Tailors Bonnie? or Ninety Nine and N
From: lagamorph

I heard something in high school that I will probably never hear again. (The instructor died of cancer). I don't know what it was called: The Tailors Bonnie or Ninety Nine and Ninety. I would love the lyrics, if any one has them. It is a song about the Devil trying to win the soul of a woman asking her three questions: What is greener than the grass, sing 99 and 90...something something something,, what is deeper than the sea, what is higher than the sky, and she replies "envy's greener than the grass, love is deeper than the sea, and heaven's higher than the sky", but I would really like the complete lyrics if anyone has them. Thank you in advance!

Sue


12 Jul 02 - 04:47 AM (#747005)
Subject: RE: The Tailors Bonnie? or Ninety Nine and N
From: greg stephens

Sorry, I cant do blue clickies.The song you want is called "The Devil's Nine Questions", and if you type that into the search place on the main Forum page you will find it all in no time.


12 Jul 02 - 04:59 AM (#747010)
Subject: RE: The Tailors Bonnie? or Ninety Nine and N
From: GUEST,greg stephens

I dont know if the search facilities are broken,but typing the Devils nine questions didnt work when I tried it just now. But if you type"ninety nine and ninety" into the "Digitrad and Forum search" box, and then press Go, it takes you straight to what you want.


12 Jul 02 - 05:08 AM (#747012)
Subject: RE: The Tailors Bonnie? or Ninety Nine and N
From: Malcolm Douglas

You need the apostrophe! The Devil's Nine Questions. The set we have here is from Virginia; the Weaver's Bonny in this case.


12 Jul 02 - 05:24 AM (#747019)
Subject: RE: The Tailors Bonnie? or Ninety Nine and N
From: GUEST,greg stephens

thanks Malcolm. I always thought these search thingies ignored punctuation.I'll remember in future. I hope all the people who put songs in are totally familiar with the rules concerning "its" and "it's" etc!!


12 Jul 02 - 05:38 AM (#747025)
Subject: RE: The Tailors Bonnie? or Ninety Nine and N
From: GUEST,greg stephens

Youre dead right Malcolm. If you look for "Its a long way to Tipperary" it doesnt find anything.Is there a Punctuation Lesson somewhere on Mudcat? A lot of us need it!


12 Jul 02 - 05:57 AM (#747035)
Subject: RE: The Tailors Bonnie? or Ninety Nine and N
From: Malcolm Douglas

It's still best to try both approaches, though; some songs are apostrophised in the DT while others which ought to be are not...


12 Jul 02 - 10:37 AM (#747146)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE DEVIL'S NINE QUESTIONS
From: masato sakurai

THE DEVIL'S NINE QUESTIONS
(Sung by Texas Gladden; sound clip is HERE)

Oh, you must answer my questions nine,
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
Or you're noy God's, you're one of mine,
And you are the weaver's bonny.

"What is whiter than milk?
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
And what is softer than the silk?
And you are the weaver's bonny."

"Snow is whiter than milk,
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
And down is softer than silk,
And I am the weaver's bonny."

"Oh, what is higher than a tree?
And what is deeper than the sea?"

"Heaven's higher than a tree,
And Hell is deeper than the sea."

"What is louder than a horn?
And what is sharper than a thorn?"

"Thunder's louder than a horn,
And death is sharper than a thorn."

"What's more innocent than a lamb?
And what is meaner than womankind?"

"A babe's more innocent than a lamb,
The devil's meaner than womankind."

"Oh, you have answered my questions nine,
And you are God's, you're none of mine."

~Masato


12 Jul 02 - 11:03 AM (#747157)
Subject: RE: The Tailors Bonnie? or Ninety Nine and N
From: Susan of DT

This is Child #1 so if you put #1 in the blue search box, you will get several versions.


12 Jul 02 - 05:41 PM (#747400)
Subject: RE: The Tailors Bonnie? or Ninety Nine and N
From: Jacob B

I read as a child a children's book called The Nine Questions. At the end of it, the boy had to sing the replies to this song (with the questions being sung by the Minister Of Light.) He is able to answer the questions correctly because of the experiences he had in the previous chapters. Anyone else remember that book?

By the way, in the book's version of the song, there is no mention of the weaver until the final refrain, when the defeated devil tells him, "You are the weaver's barney!" It becomes clear in context that a barney is a ward or child.


13 Jul 02 - 03:46 PM (#747735)
Subject: RE: The Tailors Bonnie? or Ninety Nine and N
From: lagamorph

Thank's, everyone!

After 25 years, I finally have it!

Thank you again!

Sue