Lord Randal- Bowen (TN) 1897 SFQ Mason
[From: Southern Folklore Quarterly, Volume 11, University of Florida, 1947; Collected by Robert Leslie Mason, as sung by Mrs. Dema Bowen, Cannon County, Tennessee. Also found in Mason's Folk Songs and Folk Tales of Cannon County, Tennessee (1939) p. 13.
This version is unusual in that the hero is "Lord Randal" and he as been to the "greenwood," as found in Child A which is rare in US.
R. Matteson 2014]
Lord Randal- sung by Mrs. Dema Bowen of the community of Geedville, adding that she had learned it from her father nearly fifty years ago.
Oh where have you been, Lord Randal my son?
And where have you been, my darling one?
"I have been to the greenwood ; Mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm wearied with hunting and fain would lie down."
"And who met you there, Lord Randal, my son?"
And who met you there, my darling one?
"Oh I met with my true love ; Mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm wearied with hunting and fain would lie down."
"And what did she give you, Lord Randal, my son?
And what did she give you, my darling one?
"Eels fried in a pan ; Mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at the heart and fain would lie down."
What do you will to your father, Lord Randal my son?
What do you will to your father, my darling one?
My horse and my saddle, Mother, make my bed soon,
For I fear I am dying and fain would lie down."
"What do you will to your brother, Lord Randal, my son?
What do you will to your brother, my darling one?"
"My dogs and my gun ; Mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at the heart and fain would lie down.
"What do you will to your sister, Lord Randal, my son?
What do you will to your sister, my darling one?"
My books and my pictures, Mother, make my bed soon,
For I fear I am dying and fain would lie down."
What do you will to your sweetheart, Lord Randal my son?
What do you will to your sweetheart, my darling one?"
"Six cord of green white oak too bake her bones brown,
For I fear I am dying and fain would lie down."