Lord Randall- Sullivan (WI-MO) c.1929 REC Beers
[From Folkways recording: Walkie in the Parlor- Bob and Evelyne Beers FW02376 / FA 2376, 1960. This folk song was taken from Bob Beers grandfather, George Sullivan, a fiddler. Sullivan's family settled in Wisconsin in the 1860s and Beers played with his grandfather when he was seven. I'm guessing a date of circa 1929 when Bob was very young (around 7)- at any rate the ballad should date back to the 1800s through his grandfather and probably before 1920 through his daughters. The text was probably assembled from the recollection of Sullivan's daughters as well. The first four verses are from Sullivan, the rest were added by Beers. Beers/Folkways notes follow.
R. Matteson 2014]
George Sullivan moved west to Wisconsin from an Irish settlement in Pennsylvania at about the time of the Civil War. The family homesteaded in the vicinity of North Freedom, and Mr. Sullivan was the best known fiddler for a radius of fifty miles. He was also a well known story teller, and knew hundreds of folk songs. These traditions were passed on to grandson, Bob Beers, including the violin which the old man played. Beers began fiddling with his grandfather at the age of seven, and actually placed in a tie at an old time fiddlers contest in North Freedom at the age of twelve.
Backed by the psaltery, a plucked instrument in the zither family, Evelyne and Bob "Fiddler" Beers perform songs from the Anglo-American tradition, including a selection of pieces handed down by Bob's grandfather, George Sullivan.
SIDE II, Band 3: LORD RANDALL- This is the Sullivan version of a well known song. Fifth and last verses were added by Bob Beers from other sources in order to fill in the gaps.
1. Where have you been all day, Randall my son,
Where have you been all day, my pretty one?
I did hunt in the wildwood, mother,
I did hunt in the wildwood, mother,
Oh, make my bed soon, for I'm sick to my heart,
And I fain would lie down.
2. When had you your dinner, Lord Randall, my son
When had you your dinner, boy, my pretty one?
When I dined with my true love, mother,
When I dined with my true love, mother,
Oh, make my bed soon, for I'm sick to my heart,
And I fain would lie down.
3. What became of your bloodhounds, Lord Randall, my son,
What became of your bloodhounds, boy, my pretty one?
Oh they swelled and they died, mother,
Oh they swelled and they died, mother,
Oh, make my bed soon, for I'm sick to my heart,
And I fain would lie down.
4. Tell, what was your dinner, Lord Randall, my son.
What was your dinner, boy, my pretty one?
Boiled eels and toadstools, mother,
Boiled eels and toadstools, mother,
Oh, make my bed soon, for I'm sick to my heart,
And I fain would lie down.
5. What was their color, Lord Randall, my son,
What as their color, boy, my pretty one?
They were spickled and spackled, mother,
They were spickled and spackled, mother,
Oh, make my bed soon, for I'm sick to my heart,
And I fain would lie down.
6. Then, I fear you are poisoned, Lord Randall, my son,
Then, I fear you are poisoned, boy, my pretty one!
Oh yes, I am poisoned, mother,
Oh yes, I am poisoned, mother,
Oh, make my bed soon, for I'm sick to my heart,
And I fain would lie down.
7. Where will you be buried, Lord Randall, my son,
Where will you be buried boy, my pretty one?
Neath the cold, cold ground, mother,
Neath the cold, cold ground, mother,
Oh, make my bed soon, for I'm sick to my heart,
And I fain would lie down.
8. And what of your sweetheart, Lord Randall, my son,
What of your sweetheart, boy, my pretty one?
Build a rope and a scaffold, mother,
Build a rope and a scaffold, mother,
Oh, make my bed soon, for I'm sick to my heart,
And I fain would lie down.