I Wonder When I Shall Be Married

1. I wonder when I shall be married
Oh be married, oh be married
I wonder when I shall be married
For my beauty's beginning to fade

2. My mother she is so willing
Oh so willing, oh so willing
My mother she is so willing
For she has four daughters besides

3. My father has forty good shillings
Oh good shillings, oh good shillings
My father has forty good shillings
And they will be mine when he dies

4. My shoes have gone to be mended
Oh to be mended, oh to be mended
My shoes have gone to be mended
And my petticoat's gone to dye green

5. And they will be ready by Sunday
Oh by Sunday, oh by Sunday
And they will be ready by Sunday
Oh say, won't I look a queen

6. A cup, a spoon, and a trencher
Oh a trencher, oh a trencher
A cup, a spoon, and a trencher
And a candlestick made out of clay

7. Oh say, won't I be a bargain
Oh a bargain, oh a bargain
Oh say won't I be a bargain
For someone to carry away

8. I wonder when I shall be married
Oh be married, oh be married
I wonder when I shall be married
For my beauty's beginning to fade


As sung by Jean Ritchie.  An American version of the 17th century British song, “The Maidens sad complaint for want of a Husband.”  From Jean Ritchie's notes from Folk Songs of the Southern Appalachians: Our family has its worries. There were eleven girls born in our house, and only three boys, and that seemed to be pretty much the pattern all through the community. This little song the girls used to sing over the dishwashing, and by the time the older ones got up into their teens, it had come to have real meaning. By the time I came along, it was well established in our locality as "the Ritchie old-maid song."