Lord Ronald- Cruickshank (Aber) 1881 Carpenter
[From: James Madison Carpenter Collection, JMC/1/2/2/K, p. 05606. This is one of only two Carpenter versions with the bloodhound stanza- it also has "wildwoods" which is also unusual.
R. Matteson 2018]
Lord Ronald- sung by W. C. Cruickshank of Cortes Gardens, Lonmay, Aberdeenshire. Learned about 1881 from his sister.
1. "Oh whar hae ye been, Lord Ronald my son,
Oh whar hae ye been, my handsome young man?"
"I hae been to the wildwoods, mother, mak my bed soon,
I am weary wi huntin and fain would lie doon."
2. "Whar got ye your dinner, Lord Ronald my son,
Whar got ye your dinner, my handsome young man?"
"I dined wi my truelove, mother, mak my bed soon,
For I'm weary wi huntin and fain would lie doon."
3. "What got ye to[at] dinner, Lord Ronald my son,
What got ye to dinner, my handsome young man?"
"I eels boiled in brew, mother, mak my bed soon,
For I'm weary wi huntin and fain would lie doon."
4."What became o your bloodhounds, Lord Ronald my son,
What became o your bloodhounds, my handsome young man?"
"O they swelled and thye died, mother, mak my bed soon,
For I'm weary wi huntin and fain would lie doon."
5. "I'm afraid ye are poisoned, Lord Ronald my son,
I'm afraid ye are poisoned, my handsome young man?"
"O yes, I am poisoned, mother, mak my bed soon,
For I'm sick at the heart and fain would lie doon."