Lord Randal- Mary Riddle (NC) 1926 Henry
[From: Ballads and Songs of the Southern Highlands by Mellinger E. Henry; The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 42, No. 165 (Jul. - Sep., 1929), pp. 254-300. Also in his 1938 book, Folk Songs of the Southern Highlands. Henry's notes follow.
R. Matteson 2014]
3. LORD RANDAL, Child, No. 12.
Sung by Miss Mary Riddle, Black Mountain, Buncombe County, North Carolina. She had it from her father who learned it in Madison County, North Carolina. This ballad came as a surprise to the editor because on a former visit to the home of Miss Riddle this young lady insisted that she had "sung all I know," but a later visit (1926) brought as reward the following variant of Lord Randal.
Cox in his head-note to No. 4 states that twelve variants have been recovered in West Virginia under the titles of "Lord Randal", "Johnny Randolph", "Johnny Randal", "Johnny Ramsey", and "Johnny Reeler". Reed Smith (No. 2) quotes two from South Carolina. See also Campbell and Sharp, No. 6; Pound, No. I; Shoemaker, 123; Journal XXXIX, 81; New Jersey Journal of Education, December, 1927; Josephine McGill, Folk Songs of the Kentucky Mountains, 19. (In Shoemaker's second edition, 1923, the page is 139).
1. "Oh, where have you been, Lord Randal, my son?
Oh, where have you been, my handsome young man ?"
"I have been to the greenwood. Mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm wearied with hunting and fain would lie down."
2. "And who met you there, Lord Randal, my son?
And who met you there, my handsome young man ?"
"Oh, I met with my true love. Mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm wearied with hunting and fain would lie down."
3. "And what did she give you, Lord Randal, my son?
And what did she give you, my handsome young man?"
"Eels fried in a pan. Mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm wearied with hunting and fain would lie down."
4. "And what got your leavings, Lord Randal, my son?
And what got your leavings, my handsome young man ?"
"My hawks and my hounds. Mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm wearied with hunting and fain would lie down."
5. "And what became of them, Lord Randal, my son?
And what became of them, my handsome young man?"
"They stretched their legs out and died. Mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm wearied with hunting and fain would lie down."
6. "Oh, I fear you are poisoned, Lord Randal, my son!
Oh, I fear you are poisoned, my handsome young man!"
"Oh, yes, I am poisoned. Mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at heart and fain would lie down."
7. "What do ye leave to your mother, Lord Randal, my son?
What do ye leave you your mother, my handsome young man?"
"Four and twenty milk cows. Mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at the heart and fain would lie down."
8. "What do ye leave to your sister, Lord Randal, my son?
What do ye leave to your sister, my handsome young man?"
"My gold and my silver. Mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at the heart and fain would lie down."
9. "What do ye leave to your brother, Lord Randal, my son?
What do ye leave to your brother, my handsome young man?"
"My houses and my lands. Mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at the heart and fain would lie down."
10. "What do ye leave to your true love, Lord Randal, my son?
What do ye leave to your true love, my handsome young man?"
"I leave her hell and fire! Mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at heart and fain would lie down."