Johnny Randall- McDonald (MO) 1914 Belden B
[From Ballads and Songs collected by the Missouri Folk-Lore Society, 1940, ed. Belden. An excerpt of his notes follow.
R. Matteson 2014]
The name of the poisoned one varies greatly; one name, Tyranty, belongs exclusively, so far as the record goes, to New England. The poisoner is commonly the victim's sweetheart, but may be his stepmother, his grandmother, his sister, his wife, or even (BBM version N) himself.[1] The poison is commonly snake venom (often described as 'eels' or spotted, striped, or speckled fish caught in a hedge or ditch ) but may be simply 'bread and poison' or 'a cup of cold poison'; in Child M it is apparently and in the Cumberland version listed above it is specifically toads. Altho there is little if anything that is distinctive in the Missouri versions, it seems best to give them here for the benefit of future students of this particular ballad story.
1. In a text from family tradition in Vermont given me in 1920 by Mr. P. G. Perrin the poisoner is 'grandpa'!
B. 'Johnny Randall.' Communicated 1914 by Celestine McDonald of Vernon County.
'Where have you been to, Johnny Randall, my son?
Where have you been to, my dear and sweet one ?'
'To see pretty Polly; mother, make my bed soon,
For I am sick-hearted and fain would lie down.'
'What did you have for your supper?'
'Fried eels in fresh butter. '
'What'll you leave for your father?'
'My house and fine farm.'
'What'll you leave for your mother? '
'My coach and six horses.'
'What'll you leave for your sister?'
'My horse and side-saddle.'
''What'll you leave for your brother?"
'My trunk and fine clothing.'
'What'll you leave for your sweetheart, Johnny Randall, my son?
What'll you leave for your sweetheart, my clear and sweet one?'
'Fire and brimstone, to burn her bones brown;
For she is the cause of my lying down.'