Child Riddles- Horton Barker 1941; Brown Collection of NC Folklore
[Included in Brown- Volume IV as an additional song is: 316 Child Riddles. If the title was not supplied by Abrams, it's likely Barker learned this title from someone who knew it was one of the Child ballads- perhaps Richard Chase. Apparently Chase (who became involved in 1934 had become one of the organizers in 1937 according to Wisnant) got his version from an unknown singer at The White Top Folk Festival after 1934 but before 1941. It's also possible the version was not traditional. Chase probably taught it to Barker or learned it with Barker, during that time.
R. Matteson 2011]
316 Child Riddles
'Child Riddles.' Sung by Horton Barker. From the recording of Dr. W. A. Abrams, at Boone, Watauga county, on September 14, 1941- 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.