Henry, My Son- Carr (SK) pre1903 REC Cass-Beggs
[From Folkways Records, Folksongs of Saskatchewan, Album No. FE 4312; 1963. Collected and with notes by Barbara Cass-Beggs (following). This is one of the few Canadian versions of Lord Randal sung in English and almost all are title "Henry" or "Henery." It's the only extant version where the father is blamed for the poisoning.
R. Matteson 2014]
Grace Carr's grandparents lived in Ontario, having come from England and Pennsylvania. Her father came to Winnipeg where he met her mother who parents had come out from England. In 1903 they went to Wolseley, Saskatchewan, and later took a homestead south-west of Moose Jaw where they had eight children. As there were no schools in that area, the mother taught the family everything including these songs. Grace Carr married a farmer and has a family of two.
HENRY, MY SON
"Where have you been all day, Henry my son?
Where have you been all day, my beloved one?"
"In the meadow, in the meadow.
Make my bed, I've a pain in my head
And I want to lie down and die."
''Who gave you poisoned berries, Henry my son?
Who gave you poisoned berries, my beloved one?"
"Father, dear Mother, Father, dear Mother.
Make my bed, I've a pain in my head
And I want to lie down and die."
"What will you give your brother, Henry my son?
What will you give your brother, my beloved one?"
"My watch for brother, my watch for brother.
Make my bed, I've a pain in my head
And I want to lie down and die."
"What will you give your sister, Henry my son?
What will you give your sister, my beloved one?"
"Silks and satins, silks and satins.
Make my bed, I've a pain in my head
And I want to lie down and die."
"What will you give your mother, Henry my son?
What will you give your mother, my beloved one?"
"Love to Mother, love to Mother.
Make my bed, I've a pain in my head
And I want to lie down and die."
"What will you give your father, Henry my son?
What will you give your father, my beloved one?"
"A rope to hang him, a rope to hang him.
Make my bed, I've a pain in my head
And I want to lie down and die."