THE BONNY CRAVAT

Anonymous

 

All:             As Johnny met Jenny a-going to play

                   Quoth Johnny to Jenny,

Solo 1:       “I pray thee, love, stay;

                   Since thou art my honey, my joy and delight,

                   I’ll love thee forever and love thee aright.

                   Jenny come tie my, Jenny come time my,

                   Jenny come tie my Bonny Cravat.”

Solo 2:       I’ve tied it behind and I’ve tied it before,

                   I’ve tied it so often I’ll tie it no more.

Solo 1:       I’ll but thee a gown and a scarf and a hood;

                   If thou wilt believe me, I’ll ever be good.

                   For rings and for ribbons, ne’er matter for that

                   If thou art but willing to tie my cravat.

All:             Jenny come tie his, Jenny come tie his,

                   Jenny come tie his Bonny Cravat.

Solo 2:       I’ve tied it behind, and I’ve tied it before,

                   I’ve tied it so often I’ll tie it no more.

                   All this did you promise me often before

                   If I would but tie it one time, or two more;

                   But yet you never were so good as your word,

                   Therefore for to tie it I cannot afford.

Solo 1:       My Jenny, if thou wilt be ruled by me

                   It shall not be long ‘ere we wedded will be;

                   For I have got money and house and good land,

                   Which all shall be ready at Jenny’s command.

All:             Jenny come tie his, Jenny come tie his,

                   Jenny come tie his Bonny Cravat.

Solo 1:       Besides, on the common I have got a cow.

                   To give us some milk, and a Bonny black yow;

                   I likewise at home have a dot and a cat,

                   Then pray thee, good Jenny, come tie my Cravat.

 

Solo 2:       Your cow on the common that grazes, you say,

                   May wheedle another your will to obey.

                   Then pray thee make much of your dog and your cat

                   For I am not willing to tie your cravat.

Solo 1:       O Jenny, why art thou so hard of belief

                   I fear thou art minded to kill me with grief

                   Before thee, I’ll open my heart to the life

                   I tell thee, I mean for to make thee my wife.

Solo 2:       I’ve tied it behind and I’ve tied it before

                   I’ve tied it so often I’ll tie it no more.

                   O Johnny I fear thou dost flatter me now,

                   Or else I could love thee, I swear and I vow.

                   But with fair delusions I may be undone,

                   Therefore from thy Jenny, good Johnny, be gone.

Solo 1:       My Jenny, then pray thee take one word for all,

                   I never will leave thee, whatever befall;

                   In sickness and health I will for thee provide,

                   And at the next Kirk I will make thee my bride.

All:             Jenny come tie his, Jenny come tie his,

                   Jenny come tie his Bonny Cravat.

Solo 2:       I have tied it behind, and I’ve tied it before.

                   I’ve tied it so often I’ll tie it no more.

                   Then Johnny I love thee as dear as my life

                   And I am contented for to be thy wife,

                   And we will be married to both our content;

                   I hope we shall never have cause to repent.

Solo 1:       Jenny come tie my, Jenny come tie my,

                   Jenny come tie my Bonny Cravat.

Solo 2:       I have tied it behind, and I’ve tied it before,

                   And now I will tie it a hundred times more.