Oh No, John!
Despite my attempts to stay off line, I have this song in my head. I used to sing it in a performance with the rest of the class for a school event years back. It was Oh No, John! (Sanitised version) other titles include The Spanish Merchant’s Daughter, The Dumb Lady and No, No not I. I came to know of it just as I was doing a search. The wonders of Google and search engines.
Video embedded. Link
Lyrics
By Cecil Sharpe
On yonder hill there stands a creature,
Who she is I do not know
I will court her for her beauty,
She must answer yes or no
Oh 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
Oh no John, No John, No John, No!
Oh madam in your face is beauty,
On your lips red roses grow
Will you take me for your lover,
Madam answer yes or no
Oh no John, No John, No John, No!
Oh madam I will give you jewels,
I will make you rich and free
I will give you silken dresses,
Madam will you marry me?
Oh no John, No John, No John, No!
Oh 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?
Oh no John, No John, No John, No!
Then I will stay with you forever,
If you will not be unkind
Madam I have vowed to love you,
Would you have me change my mind?
Oh no John, No John, No John, No!
Oh hark, I hear the churchbells ringing,
Will you come and be my wife?
Or dear madam, have you settled,
To live single all your life?
Oh no John, No John, No John, No!
Since the bawdy lyrics can’t be found in Youtube, I have only the lyrics.
Lyrics
By Mark Johnson
On yonder hill there stands a creature,
Who she is I do not know
I will court her for her beauty,
She must answer yes or no
Oh no John, No John, No John, No!
On her bosom are bunches of posies,
On her breast where flowers grow
If I should chance to touch that posy,
She must answer yes or no
Oh no John, No John, No John, No!
Madam I am come for to court you,
If your favor I can gain
If you will but entertain me,
Perhaps then I might come again
Oh no John, No John, No John, No!
My husband was a Spanish captain,
Went to sea a month ago
The very last time we kissed and parted,
Bid me always answer no.
Oh no John, No John, No John, No!
Madam in your face is beauty,
In your bosom flowers grow
In your bedroom there is pleasure,
Shall I view it, yes or no
Oh 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
Oh no John, No John, No John, No!
My love and I went to bed together,
There we lay till cocks did crow;
Unclose your arms my dearest jewel,
Unclose your arms and let me go
Oh no John, No John, No John, No!
I’ve always liked the melody as it was easy to sing along. After reading the first version, I now wonder.
