No, Sir! No- Mrs. Bowring (Dor) 1907 Hammond
[From Henry Hammond Manuscript Collection (HAM/5/35/15). See part of her version in Purslow's composite in Marrowbones about 2003.
R. Matteson 2017]
No, Sir! No- sung by Mrs. Bowring of Cerne Abbas, Dorset in Sept 1907.
Lady was walking in her garden,
No aloner might she be,
If I should walk down beside her,
Would that be any harm to thee?
Oh dear oh! No sir, no!
Still her answer to me was No.
Stooping down to tie her garter,
That's a little above the knee,
If my hand should slide up and further,
Would that be any harm to thee?
Oh dear oh! No sir, no!
Still her answer to me was No.
They lay there all night together,
(Till the cocks began to crow)
When the day light is appearing,
[Would you] open your arms and let me go?
Oh dear oh! No sir, no!
Still her answer to me was No.
There's one more thing I have to ask you,
That's before I let you go,
Did you even sleep more sounder,
Was you ever [more] cuddled so?
Oh dear oh! No sir, no!
Still her answer to me was No.