Willie, My Son- Luther (WV) c.1890 Cox F
[My title. From J. H. Cox, version E, 1925, "Folk-Songs of the South." His notes follow. I've supplied a new date guesstimate using the biographical information about the informant (her daughter) which was taken from the Doris C. Miller Manuscript Collection at the Marshall University Archives:
Doris C. Miller, formerly Doris Thyra Copley, was born July 18, 1903, at Shoals, Wayne County, West Virginia. She was the daughter of Mrs. Anna Luther Copley, a retired school teacher of Shoals, and the late George Washington Copley, a soldier, minister and farmer. She was descended from a number of pioneer teachers in Wayne County and was of English, Irish, Scottish, Dutch and German descent. Among her ancestral names are Baird, Craig, Stock, Luther, Harmon, Napier, Ross and James.
R. Matteson 2014]
4. LORD RANDAL (Child, No. 12)
Twelve variants have been recovered in West Virginia, under the titles "Lord Randal," "Johnny Randolph," "Johnny Randal," "Johnny Ramsey," and "Johnny Reeler." A, B, C, D, and E, are all fine vigorous ballads, telling practically the same story, except in E, where the hero has been to visit his sister. In A the lover has been to the greenwood, spent the night with his true-love, and had for supper fried eels and fresh butter. In form and content, it is most like Child A, but verbal similarities and the refrain connect it with Child B, D, E, and F. B resembles most closely Child B, but shows other relations. The refrain is similar to that of Child H. The title is no doubt due to the fame of John Randolph of Virginia. C is so similar in arrangement and diction to B that further comment is unnecessary. D, while not so complete as B and C, belongs to the same group. E shows many variations from the preceding ballads. The name "Henry" suggests the "King Henry" of Child C. The red, black, and yellow poison may be an echo from Child B. "Ropes to hang her" suggests Child B and I. The statement that he had been to his sister's may be a corruption for grandmother's or stepmother's. Cf . Child I, J, K, L, M, N, and O. The remaining variants are more or less incomplete and need no special comment. C was printed by Cox, XIV, 266.
Scores of variants have been collected in this country, and new copies keep coming in from various states: see references in Journal, xxix, 157; xxx, 289; xxxv, 339- Add Shoemaker, p. 123; Pound, No. 1; Bulletin, Nos. 7-10.
F. [Willie, My Son] No local title. Contributed by Mrs. Anna Copley, Shoals, Wayne County, January 28, 1916, who has known it ever since she was a child.
1 "Where have you been, Willie, O Willie, my son?
Where have you been, my fair and pretty one?"
"I have been to see my true-love; mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at my heart, and I want to lie down."
2 "Where have you been, Willie, O Willie, my son?
Where have you been, my fair and pretty one?"
"I have been to see my true-love; mother, make my bed soon,
For I believe I am dying, and I want to lie down."
3 "What'll you will to your father, O Willie, my son?
What'll you will to your father, my fair and pretty one? "
"My land and money; mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at my heart, and I want to lie down."
4 "What 'll you will to your mother?"
"My bed and my clothing."
5 "What 'll you will to your brother? "
"My horse and my buggy."