Three Drops of Poison- Kemp (Surry) 1907
Narrative Ballads
by Lucy E. Broadwood, A. G. Gilchrist, Cecil J. Sharp, Clive Carey, Frank Kidson
Journal of the Folk-Song Society, Vol. 5, No. 19 (Jun., 1915), pp. 122-148
II.-THREE DROPS OF POISON [LORD RANDAL]
SUNG BY MR. KEMP (AGRICULTURAL LABOURER, AGED ABOUT 75).
Noted, from phonograph record, by Walter Ford. AT ELSTEAD, SURREY, 1907.
1. "Where are you a-going, my own darling boy?
Where are you a-going, my comfort and joy?"
"Down in yonder meadow, where the violets do grow,
I've a trouble down there, where the violets do grow."
2 "What will you have for breakfast, my own darling boy?
What will you have for breakfast, my comfort and joy?"
"Three drops of strong poison; go make my bed soon,
I've a pain in my heart, and want to lie down."
3 " What will you have for foot-stool, my own darling boy?
What will you have for foot-stool, my comfort and joy?
"A stone at my head, and a stone at my feet,
That I might lie, and take a long sleep."
The above unusual text of " Lord Randal " has a fairly close parallel in Child's Ballads (large ed.) and seems a fragment of some version like his text H. This, learnt from a young Kerry girl (circa 1868), has eleven stanzas. Verse two runs:
"What did you have for your breakfast, my own pretty boy ?
What did you, etc., my comfort and joy ? "
"A cup of cold poison; mother, make my bed soon,
There's a pain in my heart, and I mean to lie down."
Verse eleven runs:
"Where shall I make it, my own pretty boy?
Where shall I, etc., my comfort and joy? "
"Above in the churchyard, and dig it down deep,
Put a stone to my head and a flag to my feet,
And leave me down easy until I'll take a long sleep."
Can "a cup of cold poison" or "three drops of poison" (which words also occur in "William and Dinah") have suggested to the singer a tune of the " William and Dinah " type ? Compa.re this ballad with " The little wee Croodin' Doo " and "Lord Ronald " in this Journal, where references for other versions are given.-
L. E. B.