No Sir- Mrs. Underwood (IN) 1917 Wolford
[From the "Play-Party in Indiana" by Leah Jackson Wolford published by Indiana Historical Collections, Volume 4, 1917. Wolford's notes follow. This is identical to Wakefield's 1881 arrangement.
R. Mateson 2017]
This is sometimes sung in dialogue by a boy and a girl. It bears a resemblance to the riddle ballads. Not by answering questions correctly, but by asking them in the right way does he win his love. In Mr. Sharp's book of Folk-Songs from Somerset, series 4, pp. 46–47 is the song, “O No, John!” It is very similar to the Indiana song. The words certainly had a common original. The music, however, is in common time and both in melody and in rhythm it is very different from the song as I heard it. Mrs. Underwood, the lady from whom I received the song, is of Scotch descent and it is probable that her variant represents the words and music of a Scotch parallel to the Somerset Song.
No Sir.
Mrs. T. N. U. Mrs. T. N. Underwood, Correct, Ind.
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,
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 when walking in the garden,
Plucking flowers all wet with dew,
Will you be offended if I
Have a 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 love you,
Would you then my heart decline?”
CHORUS