Lord Ronald- Alexander Robb (Aber) c.1907 Greig B
[From: The Greig-Duncan Folk Song Collection. Edited by Pat Shuldham-Shaw and Emily B Lyle, (1981-2002). Also from the James Madison Carpenter Collection, JMC/1/4/L, p. 07503, recorded melody also in in Keith/Greig. This is Greig-Duncan B, c. 1907 collected by Greig.
R. Matteson 2018]
Lord Ronald- sung by Alexander Robb of New Deer, Aberdeenshire, Scotland about 1907.
1 "Where have you been a' day, Lord Ronald, my son?
Where have you been a' day, my gallant young man?"
"O I've been a- hunting, mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm wearied, wearied wandering, and fain would lie doon."
2 "What got ye tee your supper, Lord Ronald, my son?
What got ye tee your supper, my gallant young man?"
"Black fish wi white bellies, mother make my bed soon,
For I'm wearied, wearied wandering, and fain would lie doon."
3. "You're poisoned, you're poisoned Lord Ronald, my son,
You're poisoned, you're poisoned, my gallant young man[1],"
["O yes, I am poisoned; mother make my bed soon,
For I'm wearied, wearied wandering, and fain would lie doon."]
4 "What'll ye leave tee your brother, Lord Ronald my son
What'll ye leave tee your brother, my gallant young man?'
"My houses and lands, mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm wearied, wearied wandering, and fain would lie doon."
5 "What'll ye leave tee your sister, Lord Ronald, my son?
What'll ye leave tee your sister, my gallant young man?"
My books and my Bibles, mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm wearied, wearied wandering, and fain would lie doon."
6 "What'll ye leave tee your sweetheart, Lord Ronald, my son?
What'll ye leave tee your sweetheart, my gallant young man?"
"The tow and the halter, that hangs on yon tree,
And well does she deserve it for the poisoning o' me."
For the poisoning o' me, mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm wearied wi' wandering, and fain would lie doon."
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1. I've added an approximation of the two missing lines which follow.