Talk:Oh Dear! What Can the Matter Be?

Oh Dear! What Can the Matter Be? is a traditional song. The lyrics are public domain.

Title and reason for move?
Why is the title changed from "Johnny's So Long at the Fair" to "Oh Dear! What Can the Matter Be?" without discussion?Vanjagenije (talk) 22:28, 27 June 2009 (UTC)
 * I am not seeing evidence of the move in the article history, perhaps the "Johnny's so long" version was deleted as lyrics only and this was created afterwards and survived deletion by the addition of sources? The article should be listed under the name of the tune and not just the popular refrain. Is there evidence that "Johnny's so long..." is the proper name? If so I will support a move. Active Banana (talk) 18:22, 28 April 2010 (UTC)

What it's about
I'd always understood that the reason Johnny was so long at the fair was that he had been recruited into the army. This would have presumably been obvious to listeners at the time and the point of the song was the irony of the narrator wondering why Johnny is so long when the listener knows the reason. I'd better find a source or you'll tell me this is OR! Bluewave (talk) 19:47, 28 January 2010 (UTC)

I do recall being told it was a result of him being pressganged. --Razakel19 (talk) 21:16, 20 April 2010 (UTC)


 * I had a look for a reference and found some stuff on blogs about the pressgang but not the recruiting sergeant, so maybe you're right. Not citeable unfortunately. Personally I'd still favour the army over the pressgang because the pressgang generally went after men who had been to sea, rather than country yokels. I'll keep looking though! Bluewave (talk) 09:46, 21 April 2010 (UTC)

Whilst being educated at a all-girls school, I was told it was a warning/rib-tickler song (sung by their peers or mothers etc) to girls who believe boy's promises 89.85.21.66 (talk) 18:34, 18 October 2013 (UTC)

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