No John, No- Ron & Bob Copper (Sus) 1961 REC
[Recording: The Folk Songs of Britain Volume 1; Caedmon 1961; Topic 1968-- Bob and Ron Copper sang No, John, No, recording by Peter Kennedy. Also on "Songs of Courtship" Topic Records 12T157 and Copper Family's Leader album A Song for Every Season. Printed in Early to rise: a Sussex boyhood by Bob Copper/Heinemann, 1976.
Bob Copper's version dates back to at least 1950 when it was collected by Collinson. This version is essentially "No Sir" with the first stanzas based on "Madam" and the "No John" chorus.
R. Matteson 2017]
No, John No- as sung by Bob and Ron Copper of Rottingdean, Sussex before 1961.
On yonder hill there lives a lady
But her name I do not know,
I'll go and court her for her beauty,
Whether she answers yes or no.
Chorus: No John no, no John no,
No John, no John, no John no!
She is a fair and handsome creature
And to woo her I will go.
I will ask her if she'll be my true love,
Will she answer yes or no?
Chorus: No John no, no John no,
No John, no John, no John no!
If when walking in the garden
Plucking flowers all wet with dew,
Tell me will you be offended
If I walk and talk with you?
Chorus: No John no, no John no,
No John, no John, no John no!
Tell me one thing tell me truly,
Tell me why you scorn me so,
Tell me why, when asked a question
That you always answer No?
Chorus: No John no, no John no,
No John, no John, no John no!
My father was a Spanish merchant
And before he went to sea,
He told me to be sure to answer[1]
"No," to all you said to me,
Chorus: No John no, no John no,
No John, no John, no John no!
And if when walking in the garden
I should ask you to be mine,
If I tell you that I love you
Would you then my love decline?
Chorus: No John no, no John no,
No John, no John, no John no!
1. It makes more sense to place "no" on the third line- but I'll leave it.