Lord Ronald- John MacDonald (Glas) 1975 Fullarton
[From: Scottish Tinker Songs by Peter A. Hall. There are two Scottish recordings and transcripts dated 1974 (Morayshire) and 1975 (Glasgow) by a traveller named John MacDonald. The first recording was published in 1975 on his album The Singing Molecatcher of Morayshire and in 1998 on the Topic anthology O'er His Grave the Grass Grew Green (The Voice of the People Series Volume 3). The second (bottom of this page) from a different John MacDonald (obviously different text) was published in Scottish Tinker Songs by Peter A. Hall; Folk Music Journal, Vol. 3, No. 1, Music of the Travelling People (1975), pp. 41-62.
R. Matteson 2018]
Scottish Tinker Songs by Peter A. Hall
Folk Music Journal, Vol. 3, No. 1, Music of the Travelling People (1975), pp. 41-62
Published by: English Folk Dance + Song Society
Lord Randal (Child 12) is already known from the superb version recorded by Jeannie Robertson as Lord Donald. Here is
Lord Ronald as collected by Helen Fullarton from John McDonald in Glasgow. Dr Fullarton is one of a number of part time collectors who have recorded extensively from tinkers in recent years.
LORD RONALD
[music]
1. Where have you been hunting, Lord Ronald, my son,
I've been hunting wild geese, mother make my bed soon,
For I'm weary weary hunting, aye and fain wid lie doon.
2. "What had ye for your supper, Lord Ronald, my son?"
"I'd a cup full of honey, mother make my bed soon,
For I'm weary, weary huntin', and fain wid lie doon."
3. "What brought ye to your mother, Lord Ronald, my son?"
"All my household and furniture, mother make my bed soon,
For I'm weary, weary huntin', and fain wid lie doon,"
4. "What brought ye to your sweetheart, Lord Ronald, my son?"
"I brought a rope for to hang her, mother make my bed soon,
For I'm weary, weary huntin', and fain wid lie doon."
The four songs from this section of the Child canon all show extensive incremental repetition, often cited as a general characteristic of the ballad although in fact appearing in rather few pieces.