STRAWBERRY FAIR
(Trad. Arr. Sabine Baring Gould & Cecil Sharp)
Adapted by Nolly Clapton


As I was going to Strawberry Fair,
Singing, singing, Butter-cups and Daisies
I met a maiden taking her ware,
Fol-de-dee!
Her eyes were blue and golden her hair,
As she went on to Strawberry Fair,
Ri-fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-li-do,
Ri-fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-dee.
"Kind Sir, pray pick of my basket!" she said,
Singing, singing, Butter-cups and Daisies
"My cherries ripe, or my roses red,
Fol-de-dee!
My strawberries sweet, I can of them spare,
As I go on to Strawberry Fair."
Ri-fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-li-do,
Ri-fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-dee.
I want to purchase a generous heart,
Singing, singing, Butter-cups and Daisies
A tongue that neither is nimble or tart.
Tol-de-dee!
An honest mind, but such trifles are rare
I doubt if they're found at Strawberry Fair.
Ri-fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-li-do,
Ri-fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-dee.
The price I offer, my sweet pretty maid
Singing, singing, Butter-cups and Daisies
A ring of gold on your finger displayed,
Tol-de-dee!
So come- make over to me your ware,
In church today at Strawberry Fair.
Ri-fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-li-do,
Ri-fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-dee.

As sung by Anthony Newley:

Strawberries. Ripe Strawberries.  
As I was going to Strawberry Fair,
Singing, singing, Butter-cups and Daisies
I met a maiden selling her wares,
Fol-de-dee!
Her eyes were blue and she was fair
And she rode on a donkey to Strawberry Fair
Ri-fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-li-do,
Ri-fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-dee.
“Would you like to pick from my basket!" she said,
Singing, singing, Butter-cups and Daisies
"My cherries ripe, or my roses red”
Fol-de-dee!
You can take a handful, I don’t care
As I go on to Strawberry Fair."
Ri-fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-li-do,
Ri-fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-dee.
So I said to this bird
Your cherries soon will go mouldy and bad
Singing, singing Buttercups and wotsits
Your roses wither and look all sad
Fol-de-dee
Now it’s not to buy such perishing ware
That I am slogging it to Strawberry Fair
Oh, Ri-fol, Ri-fol, come and get an earful
Ri-fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-dee.

I told her straight

I want a girl with a generous heart,
Singing, singing, Butter-cups and Oojahs
Without a tongue that is wicked or smart
Fol-de-dee!
And an honest mind, but these are rare
I doubt if  I’#ll find them at this crummy old fair
Ri-fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-li-do,
Ri-fol,  well, you know the rest, don’t you
So I put it to her straight
Now in return for these virtues, I swear
Knees up, knees up, come and have a knees up
I’ll give you a ring for your finger my dear
Fol-de-dee!
So  make me your partner and give me a share
In church today at Strawberry Fair.
Now, Ri-fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-li-do,
Ri-fol, Ri-fol,  
Strawberries. Shan’t be round tomorrow
The donkey’s pinched all the strawberries
Hee-hee-hee-hee.





(Contributed by Bill Huntley - July 2009)