O No, John- Obadiah Johnson (NC) c.1940 Brown A
[From Brown Collection of NC Folklore, 1952 Vol. III, no 14. There notes follow. This is the same text as Fuller Sisters and Pine Settlement School which was published in 1923 and 1930.
The notes do not point out that this "she answered No" song does not date back past the 1800s-- however the "No songs do date back to the 1600s. I assume they have lumped "No Sir" and "Oh No John" which although similar have diffeernt core stanzas.
R, Matteson 2017]
14. No, Sir
This courting song, also known as 'My Father was a Spanish Merchant' goes back with some changes in the course of time to the seventeenth century and has been many times printed in popular songbooks; see Kittredge's very thorough bibliographical note to Tolman's Ohio texts, JAFL xxxv 406-7. In some texts it shows contamination with 'Madam, I Have Gold and Silver.' It has been reported as traditional song from Virginia (FSV 237), Kentucky (BKH 81; TKMS 98-101 may be reckoned a form of it), Tennessee (BTFLS III 96), Arkansas (OFS iii 104-5), Ohio (JAFL xxxv 405, BSO 146). Indiana (Wolford 73-4, as a play-party song), and Iowa (MAFLS xxix 44); it is listed in Miss Pound's syllabus: forms of it appear in Sharp's One Hundred English Folk Songs and in JFSS iv 208 (Dorset); and it is no doubt known and sung much more widely than this list would indicate.
A. 'O No, John.' From the manuscripts of Obadiah Johnson of Crossnore. Avery county. This is much the fullest of our North Carolina versions.
1. On yonder hill there stands a creature,
Who she is I do not know;
I'll go and court her for her beauty.
She must answer yes or no.
O no, John! No, John! No, John! No!
(This is the refrain line, sung in the person of the girl after each stanza sung by the man.)
2. 'My father was a Spanish captain.
Went to sea a month ago.
First he kissed me. then he left me;
Bid me always answer No!'
3 'O madam, in your face is beauty,
On your lips red roses grow.
Will you take me for your lover?
Madam, answer yes or no.
4. 'O madam, I will give you jewels,
I will make you rich and free,
I will give you silken dresses.
Madam, will you marry me?
5. 'O madam, since you are so cruel
And that you do scorn me so,
If I may not be your lover.
Madam, will you let me go?
6. 'Then I will stay with you forever
If you will not be unkind.
Madam, I have vowed to love you;
Would you have me change my mind?
7 'O hark! I hear the church bells ringing;
Will vou come and be my wife?
Oh, dear madam have you settled
To live single all your life?'
Conchita Supervia, "Oh no, John" (rec. 1932)
The legendary Spanish mezzo-soprano Conchita Supervia (1895-1936) in an old English song "Oh no, John" (arranged by Cecil Sharp). The recording was made for English Parlophone in March 1932, with Ivor Newton accompanying on the piano.
O, No John
Line
Melody -
Line
On yonder hill there stands a maiden
Who she is I do not know;
I shall court he, for her beauty,
She must answer yes or no,
Chorus:
O, O, no John,
No John, No John, No.
2. Madam, on thy face is beauty
On thy lips wild roses grow,
Madam, I would be thy lover,
Madam, answer yes or no,
Chorus:
3. Madam. on thy face is beauty,
At thy bosom lilies grow,
In your bedroom there is pleasure,
Shall I view it? Yes or no.
Chorus:
4. Madam, I will give you jewels
I will make you rich and free;
I will give you silk and satins
Madam, if you lie with me.
Chorus:
5. My husband is a Spanish captain,
Went to sea a month ago.
First he kissed me, then he left me,
Bade me always answer "No!"
Chorus:
6. Madam, may I tie your garter
Just an inch above your knee?
If my hand should slip a little farther,
Would you think it ill of me?
Chorus:
7. My love and I went to bed together,
There we lay till the cocks did crow;
Open your arms my dearest darling,
Open your arms and let me go.
Chorus: