No Sir- Oleavia Houser (AR) 1958 Parler C
[From Ozark Folksong Collection, Reel 278, Item 9. Collected by Merlyn B. Page and James R. Hayes. This is Wakefield's 1881 text.
R. Matteson 2017]
No Sir- Sung by Oleavia Houser of Fayetteville, Arkansas on December 7, 1958.
Tell me one thing tell me truly
Tell me why you scorn me so?
Tell me why when asked a question,
You should answer no?
No sir, no sir, no sir, no sir,
No sir, no sir, no sir, no no.
My father was a Spanish merchant,
And before he went to sea,
Made me promise that I’d answer,
No to all you ask of me.
No sir, no sir, no sir, no sir,
No sir, no sir, no sir, no no.
If while walking in the garden,
Plucking flowers all wet with dew,
Tell me would you be offended,
If I’d walk and talk with you?
No sir, no sir, no sir, no sir,
No sir, no sir, no sir, no no.
If while walking in the garden,
I should ask you to be mine,
And should tell you that I loved you,
Would you then my heart decline?
No sir, no sir, no sir, no sir,
No sir, no sir, no sir, no no.