Yonder stands a handsome creature- H. Green (TC) 1938 Munch
[My title, replacing "Yonder." From: Munch, "Song Tradition of Tristan da Cunha (1970) pp.90-93 (version A). His notes follow. Munch reports 3 versions-- one is "Oh No John."
R. Matteson 2017]
Yonder
or
Oh No, John
Text: A, Henry Green;
B, Frances Repetto;
C, Frances Repetto (stanzas 1-4, in writing); Mary Swain (stanza 5).
Tune: A/B, Henry Green, Frances Repetto;
C, Alice Swain (Glass).
Cf. "Oh, No, No, Sir, No" (Korson, 1949, p. 50 f.), which shows that there is a traditional connection between versions A and B on the one hand and version C on the other. Numerous other versions have been recorded and published from various
parts of England and North America. Stanza 5 of version C is obviously a secondary addition. It was not included by either Frances Repetto or Alice Swain and was generally treated as a separate ditty.
Alice Swain sang the refrain of version C:
No, John, no, John, etc.
Versions A and B were rendered by Henry Green and Frances Repetto, respectively, in the same authentic Mixolydian mode.
"Yonder stands a handsome creature," sung by Henry Green of Tristan da Cunha about 1938.
1. Yonder stand a handsome woman,
What's her name I do not know,
But I'll go and court her for her beauty
Whether she be rich or no.
2. "Maiden, I am coming for to court you,
If you' favour I can gain;
But you kindly incontain[1] me,
P'rhaps that I may come back again."
3. "You may go home, kind Sir, you're welcome,
P'rhaps your face I'll never see more,
But all I want is a handsome young man,
Whether he be rich or poor."
4. "Maiden, I got gold and silver,
Maiden, I got houses and land,
Maiden, I got rings and jewelry,
All shall be at your command."
5. "What care I for your gold and silver
What care I for your houses and land,
What care I for your rings and jewelry,
All I want is a handsome man."
6. "Maiden, you talk much of beauty,
Beauty is a flower that soon will decay;
The fairest flower that blooms in summer
Only bloom to die away."
1. Apparently corrupted from 'entertain.'