316. Child Riddles
316 Child Riddles
'Child Riddles.' Sung by Horton Barker. From the recording of Dr. W. A. Abrams, at Boone, Watauga county, on September 14, I941- Sung again for the present editor during a visit at the singer's home near Chilhowie, Virginia, in the summer of 1951. Another title is 'Weaver's Bonnie.' Cf. ESPB v 205, 'Additions and Corrections, Vol. I, 1 Riddles Wisely Expounded.'
For melodic relationship cf. ***BT 169; TBV 549; BISB 38-9.
Scale: Mode III plagal. Tonal Center: g. Structure: abcd (2,2,2,2); d is slightly related to b.
1 O if you can answer my questions nine,
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
Then you're not God's, you're one of mine,
And you're not the weaver's bonnie.
2 O what is higher than the tree?
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
And what is deeper than the sea?
And you're not the weaver's bonnie.
3 O heaven is higher than the tree,
Sing ninety-nine and ninety.
And love is deeper than the sea,
And I am the weaver's bonnie.
4 O what is louder than the horn?
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
And what is sharper than the thorn?
And you're not the weaver's bonnie.
5 O thunder is louder than the horn,
Sing ninety-nine and ninety.
And hunger is sharper than the thorn
And I am the weaver's bonnie.
6 O what is whiter than the milk?
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
And what is finer than the silk?
Or you're not the weaver's bonnie.
7 O snow is whiter than the milk,
Sing ninety-nine and ninety.
And down is softer than the silk,
And I am the weaver's bonnie.
8 O what is heavier than the lead?
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
And what is better than the bread?
And you're not the weaver's bonnie.
9 O grief is heavier than the lead.
Sing ninety-nine and ninety.
God's blessing's better than the bread.
And I am the weaver's bonnie.
10 Since you have answered my questions nine,
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
Then you are God's, you're none of mine.
And you are the weaver's bonnie.