Rundle My Son- Mary Reid (Fife) 1967 Shepheard
[One of three versions from the Singing Tradition; Springthyme (online) collected by Peter Shepheard-- his notes follow,
R. Matteson 2018]
As sung by Mary Reid at Well Cottage, Peat Inn, near St Andrews, Fife, Scotland on 2 April 1967 (67.2.11). Learned within her family. John Stewart and his wife Mary Reid were travellers of the old style - they had few possessions - a pram and sometimes a bicycle with a waterproof sheet to make a 'bow tent'. They called at my door at Peat Inn where I was living at the time for hot water to make a can of tea. I invited them in and we spent the afternoon singing songs and ballads in the kitchen. Mary Reid sang her rather fragmentary version of the ballad (with three line stanzas) before the fuller version (Version 1) sung by John Stewart.
3: Rundle My Son- sung by Mary Reid, As sung by Mary Reid, Peat Inn, Fife on April 2, 1967.
'O where have you been O Rundle my son?'
'I been away huntin mother make my bed soon,
For I'm wearied wi wandred an' fain could lie doun.'
'Have you eaten any supper, O Rundle my son?'
'Black backs and white bellies mother make my bed soon,
For I'm wearied, wearied wandrin an' fain could lie doun.'
'What will you leave to your father, O Rundle my son?'
'My purse an' my sovereigns mother make my bed soon,
For I'm wearied, wearied wandrin an' fain could lie doun.'
'What'll you leave to your sweetheart, O Rundle my son?'
'A rope and a ladder behind thon gallus tree,
For it's she's been the cause o pooshin o me.'