Terence My Son- Mary R. Martin (Mass.) 1903 Barry J
[From Traditional Ballads in New England II by Phillips Barry; The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 18, No. 70 (Jul. - Sep., 1905), pp. 191-214. Also printed by Barry in 1903. Bronson (as No. 27) provided the name, Barry gives M. R. M.
R. Matteson 2014]
J. [Terence, My Son.] Recollected July 1903, by Mrs. Mary R. Martin, Newtonville, Mass., as heard sung more than sixty years ago.
1. "Oh, where have you been to-day, Terence, my son?
Oh, where have you been to-day, my pretty little one?"
"I have been to see my grandame, mother make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at the heart, and I fain would lie down."
2. "Oh, what did she give you to eat, Terence, my son?
Oh, what did she give you to eat, my pretty little one?"
"Fresh-water potted eels, mother make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at the heart, and I fain would lie down."
3 "Oh, what will you give your father, Terence, my son?
Oh, what will you give your father, my pretty little one ?"
"One half of my fortune, mother make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at the heart, and I fain would lie down."
4. "And what will you give your mother, Terence, my son?
And what will you give your mother, my pretty little one?"
"Ten thousand sweet kisses, mother make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at the heart, and I fain would lie down."
5. "And what will you give your brother, Terence, my son?
And what will you give your brother, my pretty little one?"
"T other half of my fortune, mother make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at the heart, and I fain would lie down."
6. "And what will you give your sister, Terence, my son?
And what will you give your sister, my pretty little one?"
"A thousand kind wishes, mother make my bed soon,
For I 'm sick at the heart, and I fain would lie down."
7 "And what will you give your grandame, Terence, my son?
And what will you give your grandame, my pretty little one?"
"A rope for to hang her, mother make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at the heart, and I fain would lie down."