Bluegrass Messengers

Willie Ransome- Barnett (NC) 1928 Sutton; Brown C

[Brown Collection of NC Folklore, 1952, Vol 2 and Vol. 4. Brown editor's notes follow. Music is at the bottom of page from Vol. 4.

R. Matteson 2014]

6. Lord Randal (Child 12)

Though not old, at least in English, Lord Randal is very widely known and sung; see BSM 24-5, and add to the references there given Cumberland (ETSC 96-9), Massachusetts (FSONE 191-3), North Carolina (FSRA 14), Tennessee (SFLQ XI 120-1), Florida (FSF 247-8), Arkansas (OFS I 64), Missouri (OFS I 64-7), Indiana (BSI 51-2), and Michigan (BSSM 35-6). There are four texts in the present collection.

C. 'Willie Ransome.' Another text contributed by Mrs. Sutton, this time from the singing of Myra Barnett (Mrs. J. J. Miller) of Caldwell county in 1928. Observe that here there is no mention of the sweet-heart until the last stanza. The stanza structure is as in A and B; given here only for the first stanza.

1 'Where you been, Willie Ransome, Willie Ransome, my son?
Where you been, Willie Ransome, my own darling one?'
'Been a-ramblin' and a-gamblin'; mother, make my bed down,
For I'm sick at the heart and I'd fancy lie down.'

2 'What'd you have for your supper?'
'Eels and eel broth.'

3 'What d' you will to your father?'
'My house and my home.'

4 'What d' you will to your sister?'
'My trunk and trunk keys.'

5 'What d' you will to your brother?'
'My horn and my hounds.'

6 'What d' you will to your sweetheart?'
'A cup of cold p'isen.'