Song Help

[annknee]

So the thread on Lost songs got me thinking of a really pretty song that I was taught at camp this year - Suitors. I can only remember two and a half verses as follows;

There are Suitors at my door, oh olay o ma taya
Six or 8 or maybe more ...
my father wants me wed ...
or at least thats what he said ...

So i told him that I will ...
when the rivers run up hill ...
when the pigs begin to fly ...
or the day before i die ...

so i left the very next day ....
for i knew i could not stay ....

I have looked online but the lyrics I have found are all really depressing ones which result in the girl getting married and then dying or getting married and being happy with children. The version I knew was where she leaves and is happy and there is a line somewhere like the world belongs to me, or something like that.

Does anyone know it?!

[Smudge]

We sung that at my camp - I think the words are in one of my song books! But not sure where that book is at the mo - i will look for it tomorrow and see if I have the words for you!

[c3divers]

Suitors at my Door

There are suitors at my door o-a-lay-o-ba-ki-a
Six or eight or even more o-a-lay-o-ba-ki-a
and my father wants me wed o-a-lay-o-ba-ki-a
Or at least that's what he said o-a-lay-o-ba-ki-a

Chorus

O-Lay-o-la, O-a-lay-o-ba-ki-a
O-Lay-o-la, O-a-lay-o-ba-ki-a
O-Lay-o-la, O-a-lay-o-ba-ki-a
O-Lay-o-la, O-a-lay-o-ba-ki-a

And I told him that I will, o-a-lay-o-ba-ki-a
When the rivers run uphill o-a-lay-o-ba-ki-a
or when the fish begin to fly, o-a-lay-o-ba-ki-a
or the day before I die, o-a-lay-o-ba-ki-a

Chorus

And I left home the very next day, o-a-lay-o-ba-ki-a
For at home I could not stay, o-a-lay-o-ba-ki-a
And someday I'll find my love, o-a-lay-o-ba-ki-a
He'll be sent from heaven above o-a-lay-o-ba-ki-a

Chorus

And I searched the world around, o-a-lay-o-ba-ki-a
My true love at last I found, o-a-lay-o-ba-ki-a
And we'll live most happily, o-a-lay-o-ba-ki-a
In our cottage by the sea, o-a-lay-o-ba-ki-a

[annknee]

Hmm, close but thats not the one I was looking for! Why are there so many versions to the same song - would be so much simpler if it was just the one!!!!

[c3divers]

There are so many different versions because of regional differences. This is the original from 30 years ago. Sorry that it is not hte one you were looking for.

[Trees]

Curious, why do you think that version is the original?

I think with this particular song, it's not just the regional differences, which definitely play a big part... I think with this song people tend not to like all the lyrics, but love the song, so they make up or adopt new ones.