Oh Dear, What Can the Matter Be?

“Oh Dear, What Can the Matter Be?” is a traditional English folk song dating to the late 18th century. Early printed versions appear in British song collections from the 1770s-1790s, and the tune was widely circulated through broadsides, chapbooks, and oral tradition. The song’s light, repetitive structure made it especially adaptable, and by the early 19th century it had become a familiar parlor song and later a children’s song in both Britain and the United States. Numerous variants exist, with altered verses and refrains reflecting regional tastes and household use. The melody and refrain were commonly included in early American songbooks, contributing to the tune’s place in the shared British-American folk repertoire. This performance follows a traditional melodic setting associated with late 18th- and early 19th-century versions. #Traditional #FolkSong #EnglishFolk #AmericanFolk

“Oh Dear, What Can the Matter Be?” is a traditional English folk song dating to the late 18th century. Early printed versions appear in British song collections from the 1770s-1790s, and the tune was widely circulated through broadsides, chapbooks, and oral tradition. The song’s light, repetitive structure made it especially adaptable, and by the early 19th century it had become a familiar parlor song and later a children’s song in both Britain and the United States. Numerous variants exist, with altered verses and refrains reflecting regional tastes and household use. The melody and refrain were commonly included in early American songbooks, contributing to the tune’s place in the shared British-American folk repertoire. This performance follows a traditional melodic setting associated with late 18th- and early 19th-century versions. #Traditional #FolkSong #EnglishFolk #AmericanFolk