16. Old Maid Song- Dennis (KY) 1922
16. OLD MAID SONG
Taken from a manuscript book compiled by Miss Camilla Dennis taken from singing of school children at Hindman, Knox county Kentucky, 1922-23.
Major. Ionian.
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1. I wonder when I shall be married,
O be married, O be married?
I wonder when I shall be married,
My beauty's beginning to fail.
2. My mother she is so willing,
O so willing, O so willing,
My mother she is so willing,
She's four more daughters besides.
3. My father he has forty good shilling,
Forty good shilling, forty good shilling,
My father he has forty good shilling,
And they shall be mine when he dies.
4. My shoes they have gone to be mended,
Gone to be mended, gone to be mended,
My shoes they have gone to be mended,
My petticoat's gone to dye green.
5 They shall be ready by Sunday,
Ready by Sunday, ready by Sunday,
They shall be ready by Sunday,
And then won't I be like some queen?
6 A cup and a spoon and a trencher,
A spoon and a trenchor, a spoon and a trencher,
A cup and a spoon and a trenchor,
And a candlestick made out of clay.
7. O won't I then be a bargain,
Be a bargain, be a bargain,
O won't I then be a bargain,
For someone to carry away?
8. I wonder when I shall be married,
Be married, be married,
I wonder when I shall be married,
My beauty's beginning to fail.
See, Flanders, Songs, p. 34, for a text and tune. For some other songs mocking old maids cf. Niles, I, p. 4; Henry, p. 295; Hudson, Songs., p. 249; Sharp-Karpeles, II , p. 533 (Halpert).