Digital Tradition Mirror

O Dear, What Can the Matter Be?

(This score available as ABC, SongWright, PostScript, PNG, or PMW, or a MIDI file)
Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

O Dear, What Can the Matter Be?

O dear, what can the matter me
And what can the matter be
O what can the matter be
Johnny bydes lang at the fair

He'll buy me a twopenny whistle
He'll but me a threepenny fair
He'll buy me a Bunch o' Blue Ribbons
To tye up my bonny Brown Hair

O saw ye him coming
And saw ye him coming
O saw ye him coming
Hame frae the Newcastle fair
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Mansfield (St. Clair) MS. (18c; published 1935), 13.
This is the traditional song from which the nursery
version descends; see ODNR 248-9 (no. 280).  See also
Paul's Aberdonian version, "Johnny Come Lend Me Your
Fiddle".  St. 3 has overtones of the much older song
"Saw Ye Johnny Comin'".

MS

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!