Lord Ronald- John MacDonald (Mor) 1954, Engle/Russell 1974
[There are two Scottish recordings and transcripts dated 1974 (Morayshire) and 1975 (Glasgow) by a traveller also 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.
A recording of this 1954 recording by John MacDonald of Pitgaveny, Elgin (this text), is found on Tobar an Dualchais site, http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/en/play/30691;jsessionid=C448B5F3D382302BB24D85D70F5B907E
R. Matteson 2018]
Lord Ronald- sung by John MacDonald as recorded made by Tony Engle and Tony Russell in the singer's caravan, Pitgaveny, Elgin, Morayshire, in November 1974.
1 "Where have you been, Lord Ronald, my son?
O where have you been, my handsome young man?"
"O yes I've been hunting, mother, make my bed soon,
I'm weary, weary wanderin', and I fain wid lie doon."
2 "What had you for dinner, Lord Ronald, my son?
What had you for dinner, my handsome young man?"
"I dined with my sweetheart, mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm weary wi' huntin', and fain wid lie doon."
3. What had you for your dinner, Lord Ronald my son
What had you for your dinner, my handsome young man?"
"I had black fish for dinner, mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm weary wi' huntin', and fain wid lie doon."
4. "I afraid you've been poisoned, Lord Ronald, my son,
I afraid you've been poisoned, my handsome young man,"
"O yes, I've been poisoned; mother, make my bed soon,
But I'm weary wi the huntin', and fain wid lie doon."
5. "What'll you leave to your mother, Lord Ronald my son
What'll leave to your mother, my handsome young man?'
"I'll leave my house and jewels, mother, make my bed soon,
But I'm weary wi' the huntin', and fain wid lie doon."
6. "What'll leave you to your father, Lord Ronald my son
What'll leave you to your father, my handsome young man?"
"I'll leave my houses and mosses, mother, make my bed soon,
But I'm weary wi' the huntin', and fain wid lie doon."
7. "What'll you leave to your sweetheart, Lord Ronald, my son?
What'll you leave to your sweetheart, my handsome young man?"
"I'll leave for her poison, what she gave me,
And if that wid not do, she can hang on a tree,
mother, make my bed soon,
But I'm weary wi the huntin', and fain wid lie doon."
________________________
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 charac-
teristic of the ballad although in fact appearing in rather few pieces.