Lord Randal- McKinney (Georgia) 1910- Sharp E
[One of the rare versions where Lord Randal is the hero. From English Folk Songs From the Southern Appalachian Mountains, 1917 Sharp Campbell, and 1932 Sharp Karpeles. This version was not collected by Sharp but was sent to him from Mrs. Campbell's collection which was in a collaboration with other members of the Council of Southern Mountain Workers, especially Katherine Pettit of the Hindman Settlement School and Isabel Rawn of the Martha Berry School, neither of whom were credited in either the 1917 or the 1932 edition of EFSSA. (ref. In the world of my ancestors: The Olive Dame Campbell Collection of Appalachian folk song, 1908-1916; Turner).
In this case it was collected by Rawn and sent to Campbell.
R. Matteson 2011, 2014]
LORD RANDAL- Sung by Miss Florence McKinney, Georgia June 2, 1910. Collected by Isabel Rawn
1. O where have you been Lord Randal, my son?
O where have you been, my only son?
I've been a-courtin', mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at the heart, and I fain would lie down.
2 What did you have for your supper Lord Randal, my son?
O where have you been, my only son?
A cup of cold poison, mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at the heart, and I fain would lie down.
3 What would you leave your father Lord Randal, my son?
O where have you been, my only son?
My wagon and oxen, mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at the heart, and I fain would lie down.
4 What would you leave your mother Lord Randal, my son?
O where have you been, my only son?
My coach and six horses, mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at the heart, and I fain would lie down.
5 What would you leave your sweetheart Lord Randal, my son?
O where have you been, my only son?
Ten thousand weights of brimstone to burn her bones brown,
For she was the cause of my lying down.