No, Sir, No- Mrs. W. V. Henderson (AR) 1950 Parler B
[From Ozark Folksong Collection; Reel 20 Item 6. Collected by Merlin Mitchell and transcribed by Kyle Perrin. Lines are usually subdivided, I've left them.
Three stanzas are directly from "Madam" while the other are from "No Sir." The last stanza is not standard (i.e. from Wakefield) indicating this is not based on print.
R. Matteson 2017]
No, Sir, No- was sung by Mrs. W. V. Henderson of Fayetteville, Arkansas on February 23, 1950.
Madam, I have come a-courting, courting favors for to gain,
And if you will entertain me, then perhaps I'll come again,
Oh, no, no, Sir, no, the answer to me was No, Sir, No,
Oh, no, no, Sir, no, all she'd say was a No, Sir, no.
Sir, you said you come a-courting, courting favors for to gain,
I will try to entertain you if you'll never come again,
Oh, no, no, Sir, no, all she'd say was a No, Sir, no.
Tell me one thing, tell me truly, tell me why you scorn me so,
Tell me why when I ask a question you will always answer
No, Oh, no, no, Sir, no, all she'd say was a No, Sir, no. Sir,
My father is a merchant and before he went to sea,
He told me to be sure to answer No to all you said to me,
Oh, no, no, Sir, no, all she'd say was a No, Sir, no.
Madam, while you're walking in the garden, plucking flowers wet with dew,
Would you be offended if I'd walk and talk with you,
Oh, no, no, Sir, no, all she'd say was a No, Sir, no.
Madam, while you're walking in the garden, if I were to ask you to be mine,
If I'd tell you that I loved you, would you then my heart decline?
Oh, no, no, Sir, no, all she'd say was a No, Sir, no.
The ripest apple soon is rotten, the warmest love will soon grow cold,
A young man's love is soon forgotten; please come, Sir, don't be so bold,
Oh, no, no, Sir, no, all she'd say was a No, Sir, no.
There they sat and talked together until chickens crowed for day,
And the very last words that were uttered, Open your arms and let me away,
Oh, no, no, Sir, no, all she'd say was a No, Sir, no.