Jimmy Randal- Daniels (VT) c1932 Barry MS
[My title. From a Barry Dictaphone recording in the early 1930s. Bronson 80. Myra Daniels was an informant many times for Flanders in the 1930s and early 1940s. Surprisingly Flanders does not have this version in her collection, instead she has a nearly identical version (her version A- also sung to Barry) by James Shepard of Baltimore, Vermont, whose songs were learned many years ago in Ireland. Barry only transcribed three verses of Daniels version- which perhaps was longer- as indicated by Bronson who studied Barry's MS.
R . Matteson 2014]
"Jimmy Randal"- Barry Dict. Cyl. No. 163, cutting 4. Sung Myra Daniels, East Calais, Vt.
1. "Where have you been, Jimmy Randal, my son?
Where have you been, my own lovely one,
"I have a-been [not understood][1], Mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at my heart and I want to lie down.
Down derry down, down derry down,
For I'm sick at my heart and I want to lie down."
2. "What had you for your breakfast, Jimmy Randal, my son?
What had you for your breakfast, my own lovely one?"
"I had eels fried in butter, Mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at my heart and I want to lie down,
Down derry down, down derry down,
For I'm sick at my heart and I want to lie down."
3. "What color were they, Jimmy Randal, my son?
What color were they, my own lovely one?
'They were green, white, and speck-ed, Mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at my heart and I want to lie down,
Down, derry down, down derry down,
For I'm sick at my heart and I want to lie down."
1. to see pretty Polly (Shepard)