O DEAR, what can the matter be? Dear, dear, what can the matter be? O dear, what can the matter be? Johnny's so long at the fair. He promised he'd buy me a fairing should please me, And then for a kiss, oh! he vowed he would tease me, He promised he'd bring me a bunch of blue ribbons To tie up my bonny brown hair. And it's O dear, what can the matter be? Dear, dear, what can the matter be? O dear, what can the matter be? Johnny's so long at the fair. He promised to buy me a pair of sleeve buttons, A pair of new garters that cost him but two pence, He promised he'd bring me a bunch of blue ribbons To tie up my bonny brown hair. And it's O dear, what can the matter be? Dear, dear, what can the matter be? O dear, what can the matter be? Johnny's so long at the fair. 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 bonny brown hair. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONNET: 1. THE BRIGHT MOON by CONRAD AIKEN THE WAY OF THE CONVENTICLE OF THE TREES by HAYDEN CARRUTH ILLUSIONS by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON THE GOLDEN WEDDING OF STERLING AND SARAH LANIER by SIDNEY LANIER MANHATTAN, 1609 by EDWIN MARKHAM |