O No John- Pine Mountain Settlement School (KY) 1923
[No informant named, as sung by the children of the Pine Mountain Settlement School. From "Song Ballads & Other Songs of the Pine Mountain Settlement School," Kentucky, 1923; Song 11, pages 17, 18. This is Sharp's 1911 text with one additional penultimate stanza taken from One Hundred English Folksongs (1916) pp.154-155 which has a different end stanza:
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?
Cf. Fuller Sister's version published 1928.
R. Matteson 2017]
O NO, JOHN!
John: 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."
Lady: O No, John! No, John! No, John! No!
John: 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!"
Lady: O No, John! No, John! No, John! No!
John: 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."
Lady: O No, John! No, John! No, John! No!
John: 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?
Lady: O No, John! No, John! No, John! No!
John: O madam, if you are so cruel,
And that you do scorn me so,
If I may not be your lover,
Madam, will you let me go?
Lady: O No, John! No, John! No, John! No!
John: 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?
Lady: O No, John! No, John! No, John! No!
John: O Hark! I hear the church bells ringing,
Will you come and be my wife?
Or, dear madam, have you settled
To live single all your life?
Lady: O No, John! No, John! No, John! No!