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Chords and Lyrics for Oh, Dear! What Can the Matter Be?

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Traditional Music
Traditional Lyrics

VERSE 1

F 
Oh, dear! What can the matter be?

C7 
Dear, dear, what can the matter be?

F   C7    F 
Oh, dear! What can the matter be?

Gm          C7          F 
Johnny's so long at the fair.

He promised to buy me a trinket to please me,

    C7 
And then for a smile, O, he vowed he would tease me,

   F 
He promised to bring me a bunch of blue ribbons

   Gm        C7           F 
To tie up my bonnie brown hair.

VERSE 2

F 
Oh, dear! What can the matter be?

C7 
Dear, dear, what can the matter be?

F   C7    F 
Oh, dear! What can the matter be?

Gm          C7          F 
Johnny's so long at the fair.

He promised to bring me a basket of posies,

  C7 
A garland of lilies, a gift of red roses,

  F 
A little straw hat to set off the blue ribbons

     Gm        C7           F 
That tie up my bonnie brown hair.

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Chords

Below is a list of all the chords in this song. Click on a chord to learn how to play the chord on a particular instrument.

Instrument Chords
Banjo C7 F Major G Minor
Guitar C7 F Major G Minor
Mandolin C7 F Major G Minor
Piano C7 F Major G Minor
Ukulele C7 F Major G Minor