O dear! What can the matter be?

O 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 fairing should please me,

And then for a kiss, O! he vowed he would tease me,

He promised to buy me a bunch of blue ribbons

To tie up my bonny brown hair

And it's O dear! what can the matter be?

O dear! what can the matter be?

O dear! what can the matter be

Johnny's so long at the fair

He promised to 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

And it's O dear! what can the matter be.