Johnnie Randall- Hawkins (West Virginia) 1957
[The second of two versions from Ballads and Folksongs from West Virginia by Ruth Ann Musick; The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 70, No. 277 (Jul. - Sep., 1957), pp. 247-261.
R. Matteson 2014]
3. "Johnnie Randall" (Lord Randall, Child 12)
3.2. Contributed by Mrs. Madeline Hawkins of Fairview, who learned it from her mother in Enterprise.
(1) "Where have you been, Johnny Randall, my son?
Where have you been, my own dearest one?"
"I've been to pretty Polly's, Mother, make by bed soon;
I've a pain in my head, and I fain would lie down."
(2) "Where did you get your supper, Johnny Randall, my son?
Where did you get your supper, my own dearest one?"
"I got it at pretty Polly's, Mother, make my bed soon;
I've a pain in my head, and I fain would lie down."
(3) "What did you have to eat, Johnny Randall, my son?
What did you have to eat, my own dearest one?"
"Bread, butter and cake, Mother, make my bed soon;
I've a pain in my head, and I fain would lie down."
(4) "What did you have to drink, Johnny Randall, my son?
What did you have to drink, my own dearest one?"
"Cold coffee and poison, Mother, make my bed soon;
I've a pain in my head, and I fain would lie down."
(5) "What do you will to your mother, Johnny Randall, my son?
What do you will to your mother, my own dearest one?"
"I will her sweet heaven, Mother, make my bed soon;
I've a pain in my head, and I fain would lie down."
(6) "What do you will to your sweetheart, Johnny Randall, my son?
What do you will to your sweetheart, my own dearest one?"
"I will her hell's fire, and it will scorch her heart brown;
I've a pain in my head, and I fain would lie down."