The Rantin Laddie- McGill (NB) 1928 Barry
[From British Ballad From Maine, 1929; Barry, Eckstorm and Smyth. Their notes follow.
R. Matteson 2016]
The present version, constitutes the only record of Child 240, in the north. A text from West Virginia is printed by Combs, in Folk-Songs du Midi des Etats-Unis, p. 145. Mrs. McGill's version is unique, both as to text and melody. None of the published texts of the ballad-four printed by Child, five (one in full with a collation of the others) by Greig, and one by Combs has the "hush-a-by" refrain. The air, in the Aeolian mode, is quite unlike the air first printed by Johnson, 462, in the Museum, two variants of which were taken down by Greig. It is dissimilar, also, to the air printed by Christie, I, 212, of. which the editor of Greig's Last Leaves says, "It has not much melody in it."
The Rantin Laddie- Text and melody sent in November 8, 1928 by Mrs. James McGill of Chamcook (NB). Barry
Aft hae I played at the cards an' dice,
For the love o' a rantin' laddie, O
But noo I maun sit in the ingle neuk,
An' by-lo a bastard babbie O.
CHORUS: Sing hush-a-by, an' hush-a-by
An' hush-a-by lo babbie, O,
Sing hush-a-by, an' hush-a-by
An' hush-a-by wee babbie, O.
Sing hush-a-by, an' hush-a-by
An' hush-a-by lo babbie, O,
O had your tongue, my ain wee wean,
An' A gae a sook o' the pappie, O.