Tyrante, my Son- Cushing (MA) 1838 Child I d
[From English and Scottish Popular Ballads, Child 1882 Vol. 1. As given by Mrs. Cushing, of Cambridge, Mass., as learned in 1838 from a schoolmate, who is thought to have derived it from an old nurse.
Although this is considered a New England title, versions with this title have been found in NC (Brown) and elsewhere. Phillips Barry claims that the assorted "Tiranti" titles came from a corruption of Tyrannus and not from Randall at all. He says that Tyrannus is rare and is mentioned in New England Genealogical Record
Child lists seven versions of I, all from the US, but doesn't offer individual texts. Instead he gives the text of I a and the changes from I a to make the other versions. For I a he gives changes the order of the verses to conform with standard verses. The changes for other texts are found in the End Notes. It should be noticed that some of the changes given in end notes in these editions are not completely accurate- they cover most important differences.
In Volume 2, Additions and Corrections, he adds I h and I i, then he gives the changes for h and k [sic], which should be i. I'm adding the texts, assembled from the End Notes, for all nine below:
I. 'Tiranti, my Son.'
a. Communicated by a lady of Boston,
b. By an aunt of the same.
c. By a lady of New Bedford,
d. By a lady of Cambridge,
e. By ladies of Boston.
f. By ladies of Boston.
g. By ladies of Boston.
h. Communicated by Mr. George M. Richardson.
i. Communicated by Mr. George L. Kittredge.
Child adds the following: I, a version current in eastern Massachusetts, may be carried as far back as any. a, b derive from Elizabeth Foster, whose parents, both natives of eastern Massachusetts, settled, after their marriage, in Maine, where she was born in 1789. Elizabeth Foster's mother is remembered to have sung the ballad, and I am informed that the daughter must have learned it not long after 1789, since she was removed in her childhood from Maine to Massachusetts, and continued there till her death. 'Tiranti' ['Taranti'] may not improbably be a corruption of Lord Randal.
R. Matteson 2011, 2014]
TYRANTE, MY SON- Child I d.
d. By Mrs. Cushing, of Cambridge, Mass., as learned in 1838 from a schoolmate, who is thought to have derived it from an old nurse.
1. 'O where have you been, Tyrante, my son?
O where have you been, my sweet little one?'
'I've been to my uncle's; mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm sick to my heart, and fain wad lie doun.'
2. 'What did you have for your supper, Tyrante, my son?
What did you have for your supper, my sweet little one?'
'I had eels and fresh butter; mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm sick to my heart, and fain wad lie doun.'
3. 'What color were the eels, Tyrante, my son?
What color were the eels, my sweet little one?'
'They were black striped with yellow; mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm sick to my heart, and fain wad lie doun.'
4. 'What'll ye will to your mither, Tyrante, my son?
What'll ye will to your mither, my sweet little one?'
'My gold and my silver; mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm sick to my heart, and fain wad lie doun.'
5. 'What'll ye will to your father, Tyrante, my son?
What'll you give to your father, my sweet little one?'
'My coach and my horses, mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm sick to my heart, and fain wad lie doun.'
6. 'What'll you will to your uncle, Tyrante, my son?
What'll you will to your uncle, my sweet little one?'
'*A halter to hang him; mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm sick to my heart, and fain wad lie doun.'
Footnotes- Child Id. 1[1], etc. Tyrante.
3. I've been to my uncle's, etc.
4. and fain wad lie doun.
2[3]. eels and fresh butter.
3 = a 4. 3. black striped with yellow.
4 = a 7. 1. What'll ye will to your mither?
3. My gold and my silver.
5 = a 6. 1. What'll ye will to your father?
3. My coach and my horses.
6 = a 8. 1 What'll you will to your uncle?
3, 5 of a are wanting.