Tyranty My Son- Miss L. W. Hopkinson (Mass.) c.1855 Barry O
[First from: The Ballad of Lord Randal in New England by Phillips Barry; The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 16, No. 63 (Oct. - Dec., 1903), pp. 258-264, No. 6. This is Barry's first article, an important study of the Child ballad, Lord Randall. It's also one of the earliest ballad studies of one of Child's English ballads found in the US. From Miss L. W. Hopkinson, Cambridge, Mass. The contributor adds that she learned it from her grandmother, who sang it to the tune of "Buy a Broom."
Then 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, version H. Here Barry only uses the initials of the informant, L. W. H.
I'm taking the date back a conservative amount- since the ballad has been known in the family for three generations.
R. Matteson 2011, 2014]
O. Communicated July 11, I903, by L. W. H., Cambridge, Mass., in whose family it has been traditional for three generations.
1. "Oh, where have you been, Tyranty, my son?
Oh, where have you been, my sweet little one?"
"Oh, I 've been to my grandmother's, mother make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at the heart, and I fain would lie down."
2. "Oh, what did you have for breakfast (supper), Tyranty, my son?
Oh, what did you have for breakfast (supper), my sweet little one?"
"Striped eels, fried in batter, mother make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at the heart, and I fain would lie down."
3. Oh, what will you leave your father, Tyranty, my son?
Oh, what will you leave your father, my sweet little one?"
"My houses and lands, mother make my bed soon,
For I 'm sick at the heart, and I fain would lie down."
4. "Oh, what will you leave your mother, Tyranty, my son?
Oh, what will you leave your mother, my sweet little one?"
"A purse of red gold, mother make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at the heart, and I fain would lie down."
5. "Oh, what will you leave your grandmother, Tyranty, my son?
Oh, what will you leave your grandmother, my sweet little one?"
"A halter to hang her, mother make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at the heart, and I fain would lie down."