Strawberry Fair
Composer(s): Sabine Baring Gould - Cecil Sharp - Nolly Clapton
Performer(s): 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