Lord Ronald- Arthur Argo (Midlo) 1952 Henderson
[From Collection - School of Scottish Studies; Original Tape ID - SA1952.040, their notes follow
R. Matteson 2018]
Summary - Hamish Henderson pays tribute to singer Jessie Murray, who had died ten days before this recording. He introduces sixteen-year-old Arthur Argo singing the widespread ballad 'Lord Ronald', pointing out that Arthur's tune, more usually associated with lighter songs, is noble and fitting.
In the ballad, Lord Ronald's mother asks where he has been. He says he has been wandering, and is weary and must lie down. She asks if he has had supper, and he says he has. She asks what he ate, and he says small fishes. She asks what the fishes were like, and he says yellow-backed with speckled bellies. She says he has been poisoned. She asks what he will leave to various people, and he says houses and land to his father, his purse and his money to his mother, his horses and stables to his brother, and his gold watch and chain to his sister. To his sweetheart he will leave the tow and halter to hang her on the tree for poisoning him.
Item Notes - Text transcribed in the School of Scottish Studies. 10 verses. Murder ballad. Tune 'Villikins and his Dinah'.
Lord Ronald- sung by Arthur Argo of Edinburgh, County Midlothian 1952 recorded by Hamish Henderson
1. "O where hae you been Lord Ronald my son,
O where hae ye been my gallant young man?"
Fro I hae been a-courtin', mither mak my bed soon
For I'm weary, weary, wandrin' and fain wid lie doon."
2. "Hae ye got any supper Lord Ronald my son,
Hae ye got any supper, my gallant young man?"
O yes I got supper, mither mak my bed soon
For I'm weary, weary, wandrin' and fain wid lie doon."
3. "What got ye tae your supper Lord Ronald my son,
What got ye tae your supper my gallant young man?"
A dish of sma' fishes, mither mak my bed soon
For I'm weary, weary, wandrin' and fain wid lie doon."
4. "What like were those fishes Lord Ronald my son,
What like were those fishes my gallant young man?"
Yellow back with speckled bellies, mither mak my bed soon
For I'm weary, weary, wandrin' and fain wid lie doon."
5. "I fear ye are poisoned Lord Ronald my son,
I fear ye are poisoned, my gallant young man?"
"Oh yes I am poisoned, mither mak my bed soon
For I'm weary, weary, wandrin' and fain wid lie doon."
6. "What'd ya gie tae yer faither Lord Ronald my son,
What'd ya gie tae yer faither my gallant young man?"
"Oh yes I am poisoned, mither mak my bed soon
For I'm weary, weary, wandrin' and fain wid lie doon."
7. "What'd ya gie tae yer faither Lord Ronald my son,
What'd ya gie tae yer faither my gallant young man?"
"My horses[1] and land, mither mak my bed soon
For I'm weary, weary, wandrin' and fain wid lie doon."
8. "What'd ya[2] gie tae yer maither Lord Ronald my son,
What'd ya gie tae yer maither my gallant young man?"
"My posh and my [ ], mither mak my bed soon
For I'm weary, weary, wandrin' and fain wid lie doon."
9. "What'd ya gie tae yer braither Lord Ronald my son,
What'd ya gie tae yer braither my gallant young man?"
"My horses and stable, mither mak my bed soon
For I'm weary, weary, wandrin' and fain wid lie doon."
10. "What'd ya gie tae yer sister Lord Ronald my son,
What'd ya gie tae yer sister my gallant young man?"
"My gowd watch and ball chain, mither mak my bed soon
For I'm weary, weary, wandrin' and fain wid lie doon."
11. "What'd ya gie tae yer sweetheart Lord Ronald my son,
What'd ya gie tae yer sweetheart my gallant young man?"
"Your tow and your halter, that hangs on yon tree
They hang up, they hang up, for the pizzenin o' me."
1. meant to sing "houses" hesitates after mistake slightly
2 sings "Fat" for "What" some of the time as "fat d'ya" also abbreviates in this spot