Lord Donald- Bell Roberston (Aber) 1906 Grieg J
[From Keith Greig's Last Leaves, p. 13-14 and version J, Greig Duncan Collection, Lyle. This represents an earlier generation or two-- however, the text is the same, the title slightly changed to Lord Donald. Only one version from Last Leaves has "[Lord] Henry" which is Keith Grieg version 3 by James M. Brown (one stanza but Greig Duncan A, 5 stanzas) which are only the "will" stanzas.
R. Matteson 2018]
Lord Donald- recited by Bell Roberston of New Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire. Collected by Grieg about 1906.
1 "Where have ye been a-huntin', Lord Donald, my son?
Where have ye been a-huntin', my jolly young man?"
"Oh yes, I've been a- hunting, mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at the heart, an' so fain would lie doon."
2 "Have you got ony supper, Lord Donald, my son?
Have you got ony supper, my jolly young man?"
"O yes, I've got supper; mother, mak my bed soon,
For I'm sick at the heart, an' so fain would lie doon."
3 "What kind was the supper, Lord Donald, my son,
What kind was the supper, my jolly young man?"
"A dish of small fishes, mother mak my bed soon,
For I'm sick at the heart, an' so fain would lie doon."
4. "What kind was the fishes, Lord Donald my son?
What kind was the fishes, my jolly young man?"
"Black backs and speckled bellies, mother make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at the heart, an' so fain would lie doon."
5. "O where did you dine, Lord Donald, my son?
O where did you dine, my jolly young man?"
"I dined with my sweetheart; mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at the heart, an' so fain would lie doon."
6 "I think ye are poisoned, Lord Donald, my son,
I think ye are poisoned, my jolly young man,"
"O yes, I am poisoned; mother make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at the heart, an' so fain would lie doon."
7 "What will ye leave to your father, Lord Donald my son
What will ye leave to your father, my jolly young man?"
"My land and my horses, mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at the heart, an' so fain wad lie doon."
8 "What will ye leave to your mother, Lord Donald, my son?
What will ye leave to your mother, my jolly young man?"
My gold and my silver, mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at the heart, an' so I fain would lie doon."
9 "What will ye leave to your sister, Lord Donald, my son?
What will ye leave to your sister, my jolly young man?"
"My gold watch and gold chain, mother, mak my bed soon,
For I'm sick at the heart, an' so fain would lie doon."
10 "What will ye leave to your sweetheart, Lord Donald, my son?
What will ye leave to your sweetheart, my jolly young man?"
"A tow an' the halter, that hangs on yon tree,
That's what she'll get for poisonin' me."