Song Book

Oh, Dear! What Can the Matter Be?

English nursery rhyme, 1700’s· Songs Well-Known in America · p.240

Transpose0
Text
← All songs
Chorus:
C G7
Oh, dear! What can the matter be? Dear, dear! What can the matter be?
 
C Dm G7 C
Oh, dear! What can the matter be? Johnny's so long at the fair.
 
Verses:
C
He promised he'd buy me a gift that would please me,
 
G7
And then for a kiss, oh, he vowed he would tease me;
 
C G7 C
He promised he'd buy me a bunch of blue ribbons, to tie up my bonnie brown hair.
 
He promised he'd bring me a basket of posies, a garland of lilies, a garland of roses,
A little straw hat to set off the blue ribbons, that tie up my bonnie brown hair.
 
Oh Susanna (American Traditional)
 
D A7
I come from Alabama with a banjo on my knee,
 
D A7 D
I’m going to Lou’siana, my true love for to see,
 
D A7
It rained all night the day I left, the weather it was dry,
 
D A7 D
The sun so hot, I froze to death, Susanna don’t you cry.
Chorus:
G D A7 D A7 D
Oh Susanna, oh don’t you cry for me, I come from Alabama with a banjo on my knee.
 
 
I had a dream the other night, when everything was still,
I dreamed I saw Susanna a coming-down the hill. (chorus)
 
A red, red rose was in her cheek, a tear was in her eye
I said to her Susanna girl, Susanna don’t you cry. (chorus)