Oh Dear, What Can the Matter Be? Lyrics
Johnny is taking so long at the fair that the singer starts to worry, though all she asked him to bring back was a bunch of blue ribbons for her hair.
Oh Dear, What Can the Matter Be?
Oh dear, what can the matter be
Johnny's so long at the fair,
He promised to buy me a bunch of blue ribbons
To tie up my bonny brown hair.
More verses from the original
Oh dear, what can the matter be
Johnny's so long at the fair,
He promised to buy me a bunch of blue ribbons
To tie up my bonny brown hair.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/oh-dear-what-can-the-matter-be/
- Type
- Mother Goose
- Tune
- Traditional tune, often sung with a repeated first line
- Best for ages
- 3 to 8 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| Oh dear, what can the matter be? | Hold your cheeks and look puzzled. |
| A bunch of blue ribbons | Hold up your fist as though gripping ribbons. |
| To tie up my bonny brown hair | Pretend to tie a ribbon in your hair. |
What Does Oh Dear, What Can the Matter Be? Mean?
A village fair in the old days was a big day out, with stalls, music and things to buy. Johnny has gone there, and he promised to bring back blue ribbons for the singer's hair. The longer he stays, the more worried she gets, which is why the first line is repeated three times in the usual song. Bonny is an old word for pretty.
The rhyme gives you a good chance to talk about waiting, promises and why people run late. Most children will guess that Johnny got busy and forgot the time.
History and Origin
This verse is printed in The Little Mother Goose (1912) among the favorite rhymes, and it is also quoted in other early twentieth-century collections of nursery verses. As a song it is probably older, and many people place it in the late 1700s or early 1800s, when songs about fairs and sweethearts were popular in Britain.
The words have been sung in many versions, and some add more verses about what Johnny is up to. The short form given here is the one children most often pick up.
Learning Activities
- Ribbon craft: tie a few blue ribbons to a stick and wave them to the beat.
- Fair day: set up a pretend fair with a few stalls and let children buy small things.
- Extra verse: make up a reason Johnny is late, and sing it to the same tune.