McDonald- Means (SC) 1899- Smith A
[From Reed Smith's; South Carolina Ballads, 1928. No informant, place or date named. I've changed the stanzas to fit the conventional layout.
R. Matteson 2011, 2014]
MCDONALD- From C. E. Mean's article, "A singular Literary Survivor," Sept 9, 1899 in The Outlook, pp. 119-112. One of two ballads described as "two poor buckra (white) ballads."
1. "Whar have you been, McDonald, McDonald
Whar have you been, McDonald, my son?"
"I've been hunting- make my bed soon!
I'm a weary weary wanderer, in a pain to lie down.
2. "Whar are your greyhounds, McDonald, McDonald,
Whar are your greyhounds, McDonald, my son?"
"They are still out sunning, mother Make my bed soon!
I'm a weary, weary wanderer, In a pain to lie down."
3. "Whar did you get your dinner, McDonald, McDonald,
Whar did you get your dinner, McDonald, my son?"
"I dined with my sweetheart Mother, make my bed soon;
I'm a weary, weary wanderer, In a pain to lie down."
4. "What did you have for dinner, McDonald, McDonald,
What did you have for dinner, McDonald, my son?"
"We had white fish and poison --Mother, make my bed soon;
I'm a weary, weary wanderer, In a pain to lie down."
5. "What will you will your father, McDonald, McDonald,
What will you will your father, McDonald, my son?"
"I will him my gold staff - Mother, make my bed soon;
I'm a weary, weary wanderer, In a pain to lie down."
6. "What will you will your mother, McDonald, McDonald,
What will you will your mother, McDonald, my son?"
"I will her my gold watch - Mother, make my bed soon;
I'm a wreary, weary wanderer, In a pain to lie down."
7. "What will you will your sister, McDonald, McDonald,
What will you will your sister, McDonald, my son?"
"I will her my jewelry - Mother, make my bed soon;
I'm a weary, weary wanderer, In a pain to lie down."
8. "What will you will your sweetheart, McDonald, McDonald,
What will you will your sweetheart, McDonald, my son? "
"I will her a keg of Powder To blow her sky-high!
For I'm a weary, weary wanderer, In a pain to lie down."