O Charlie, My Son- Bergen (OH) 1900 Newell A
[My title. From: Early American Ballads- II by William Wells Newell; The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 13, No. 49 (Apr. - Jun., 1900), pp. 105-122. Newell's notes follow.
R. Matteson 2014]
LORD RANDAL
The song of this name (Child, No. I2), like the history of the Merrick youth, deals with a death caused by the venom of a serpent. In this case, however, the hero is destroyed by the agency of his "true love" or betrothed bride, who administers the poison. The ballad is of wide diffusion through Europe, and is connected with a class of similar histories, including the celebrated Italian ballad of "Bella Lombarda," which, with no very good reason, has been supposed to owe its origin to the story of the Lombard queen Rosemunda of the sixth century. This English ballad has become popular in a nursery song, very familiar in this country. A number of American variants are given by Child, to which may be added the following: -
A. O Charlie (no title given)- From Mrs. Fanny D. Bergen, as formerly current in Mansfield, northern Ohio, where it was known to her as the familiar song of a child named McCulloch.
"Where have you been, Charlie, O Charlie my son?
Where have you been, Charlie, my dear and sweet one?"
"Been a-courting Pretty Polly, mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at my heart, and fain would lie down."
"What had you for supper, O Charlie my son?
What had you for supper, my dear and sweet one?"
"We had eels fried in butter; mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at my heart, and fain would lie down."
"What color were they, Charlie, O Charlie my son?
What color were they, my dear and sweet one?"
"They were black with white speckles; mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at my heart, and fain would lie down."
"O, she's poisoned you, Charlie, O Charlie my son!
O, she's poisoned you, Charlie, my dear and sweet one!"
"Yes, she's poisoned me, mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at my heart, and fain would lie down."