No Sir- American governess (US) 1882 Wakefield
[From: "The Peterson magazine," Volumes 79-80, Philadelphia, 1881. See also "Songs and Ballads: 96 Songs - Words and Music W.F. Shaw," dated 1882 and Shaw's "Gems of Minstrel Song" also dated 1882 and later in Delaney's Song Book (New York). This 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 "My Father Was a Spanish Merchant." It was was sung in the US and UK in the early 1900s sometimes mixed with stanzas of "Madam."
The printed music calls it 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]
A.M. Wakefield, the arranger was from Kendal, UK. Here's a brief online bio: Mary Wakefield was born in 1853 at the Old House, Kendal, the daughter of a local banker, and lived later at Sedgwick House, near Kendal. From her earliest years, she was a talented singer who, after training with notable London teachers, gave many charity concerts, sang at the Gloucester Festival and was acclaimed by many eminent critics. Barred by the conventions of the day from pursuing a career as a professional singer, she poured her love of music into a desire to make music more available to rural communities. She founded and trained a number of choirs in the villages around Kendal and brought them together for the first time in 1885 to take part in a “Singing Competition” to raise money for Crosscrake Church. The idea took hold and within a few years a large choir could be assembled to sing larger works. Several of the choirs founded by Mary Wakefield still thrive and still support the Festival for which they were created. Mary Wakefield died in 1910 but her name and her Festival live on, still supported by the Wakefield family, along with many other local individuals and organizations, who all value her unique contribution to the musical life of this area."
R. Matteson 2017]
No Sir! Words and Music Arr. from an American governess by A. M. Wakefield; published 1882 in New York.
1. Tell me one thing, tell me truly,
Tell me why you scorn me so?
Tell me why when asked a question,
You will always answer no?
CHORUS: No sir! No sir! No sir! No-- sir!
No sir! No sir! No sir! No.
2. My father was a Spanish merchant
And before he went to sea,
He told me to be sure and answer No!
To all you said to me.
CHORUS
3. If I was walking in the garden,
Plucking flow'rs all wet with dew,
Tell me will you be offended,
If I walk and talk with you?
CHORUS
4. If when walking in the garden,
I should ask you to be mine,
and should tell you that I loved you,
would you then my heart decline?
CHORUS