Bluegrass Messengers

Johnnie Randal- Hedrick (WV) 1876 Cox D

[From J. H. Cox, version D, 1925, "Folk-Songs of the South." His notes follow.

R. Matteson 2014]

4. LORD RANDAL (Child, No. 12)

Twelve variants have been recovered in West Virginia, under the titles "Lord  Randal," "Johnny Randolph," "Johnny Randal," "Johnny Ramsey," and  "Johnny Reeler." A, B, C, D, and E, are all fine vigorous ballads, telling practically the same story, except in E, where the hero has been to visit his sister. In A the lover has been to the greenwood, spent the night with his true-love,  and had for supper fried eels and fresh butter. In form and content, it is most like Child A, but verbal similarities and the refrain connect it with Child B, D, E, and F. B resembles most closely Child B, but shows other relations. The refrain is similar to that of Child H. The title is no doubt due to the fame of John Randolph of Virginia. C is so similar in arrangement and diction to B that further comment is unnecessary. D, while not so complete as B and C, belongs to the same group. E shows many variations from the preceding ballads. The name "Henry" suggests the "King Henry" of Child C. The red, black, and yellow poison may be an echo from Child B. "Ropes to hang her" suggests Child B and I. The statement that he had been to his sister's may be a corruption for grandmother's or stepmother's. Cf . Child I, J, K, L, M, N, and O. The remaining variants are more or less incomplete and need no special comment. C was printed by Cox, XIV, 266.

Scores of variants have been collected in this country, and new copies keep coming in from various states: see references in Journal, xxix, 157; xxx, 289; xxxv, 339- Add Shoemaker, p. 123; Pound, No. 1; Bulletin, Nos. 7-10.

D. "Johnnie Randal." Communicated by Mr. George Paugh, Thomas, Tucker County, January 10, 1916; obtained from Mrs. S. R. Paugh, who learned it about forty years previous from Mike Hedrick, while living near Spruce Mountain in Pendleton County.

1 "Where have you been, Johnnie Randal, my son?
"Where have you been, my dear little one?" ^[1]
"To see my sweetheart; mother, make my bed soon,
I've a pain at my heart, and I want to lie down."

2 "What did you have for your supper?"
"Fried eels and butter."

3. "What do you will to your mother?"
"A home in bright heaven."

4 "What do you will to your father?"
"My farm and my cattle."

5 "What do you will to your brothers?"
'My horse and my saddle."

6 "What do you will to your sisters?"
"My cottage."

7 "What do you will to your sweetheart, Johnnie Randal, my son?
"Where have you been, my dear little one?"
"Hell's fire and brimstone, dear mother, to scorch her bones brown;
She 's the cause of this pain at my heart, and I want to lie down."