US & Canadian Versions: Child 12. Lord Randal; Tiranti, My Son; Jimmy Randolph; Johnny Randall; Fair Nelson, My Son; Fair Andrew; Henry my Son (Canada); Mother Make My Bed Soon;
[Of the 197 versions of this American collection, two are duplicates (stemming from the same informant, Child Ia and Ib and also Davis- Purcel versions), two are recreations (see Gainer C and Davis AA) and three have been taken, directly or indirectly, from books (Henry My Son Barry 1912; Croodin Doo- c. 1940 by Morris from Florida; the Lord Randal WPA version, 1941 obviously copied from Child A).
The hero, rarely named Lord Randal, has been popular in the US (New England) since the late 1700s and could be traced through the Soper family possibly back to the 1600s (Linscott p. 191). There are no extant broadside versions in the US -- this ballad has been disseminated through oral transmission. Oddly, the ballad is somewhat rare in Canada with few traditional versions (Creighton publishes three, perhaps the oldest c.1928 from Henneberry, Devil's Island, Cass-Beggs one and Fowke one- although there are Acadian versions sung in French- more on that later) while the ballad has flourished in New England and is well represented in Maine. The Appalachian region is well represented with many versions found in West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina.
Child references nine US variants (Child I) dating back to c. 1800, but only supplies the text for one- I a which was communicated by Mrs. L. F. Wesselhoeft, of Boston. Child changes the order of the verses in a so the way it normally appears is not accurate but in the standard order. The changes for the other versions are found in his End Notes and in Volume 2, Additions and Corrections. Child's I e and I f variants are from the same singer so this will be included this as one variant (making eight versions total). I a and I b are also derived from the same singer but I'm listing them separately. To have one title, "Tiranti, My Son" for 8 of the 9 versions is unlikely, but additional tiles were not provided. Barry contends that these versions come from one basic version, the "Soper" version tiled Tyranty or Tiranti, which came from Justus Soper. According to Barry, "Samuel Soper and Katharine Ruggles, his wife, had a son Justus, born in 1760, who married Elizabeth Viles of Orland. Their third child, Elizabeth, born in 1789, went when young to Massachusetts, where she was brought up by her aunt Esther Soper; but the family remained in Orland, where her mother died in 1850 and her father in the year following. Elizabeth (Soper) Foster lived in Dorchester and two of her children married into the Pope family there. A granddaughter was Mrs. Lily F. Wesselhoeft, who secured the text for Professor Child."
Linscott says that her Soper version “belongs to a tradition associated with the Soper family of London, represented in America by the descendants of Joseph Soper, who settled in Boston in 1656” (Linscott p. 191).
Newell in his 1900 article Early American Ballads- II gives four texts A-D. Most of the early published US texts (from 1903- 1912) come from Phillips Barry's collection:
In his two 1905 articles Traditional Ballads in New England II-III, Phillips Barry has versions A-R. There are six versions in Barry's 1903 article The Ballad of Lord Randal in New England- three of which are not reprinted in Traditional Ballads in New England. Additional texts from Barry may be found in BFSSNE and British Ballads from Maine by Phillips Barry, Fannie Hardy Eckstorm, Mary Winslow Smyth, 1929 which reports: "Child has seven [United States] texts of this form, in which the young man, or child, is called "Tiranti, my son." In the Barry collection are about ten versions which have the name Tyranty, Tyranna, Taranty, Tyranting, etc., of which all but two attribute the poisoning to the grandmother. Of these two, which make the false true- love give the poison, one of them, "Teronto," from Lynn, Mass., has been printed in JAFL, XVIII, 199. The other, "Tyranna," the L-text of the present volume, came originally from New Brunswick."
An additional "Tarranty," collected by Barry dated 1907, was published in first issue (1930) of Bulletin of the Folk-Song Society of the Northeast. Barry claims that the assorted "Tiranti" titles came from a corruption of Tyrannus and not from Randall at all. He says that Tyrannus is rare and is mentioned in New England Genealogical Record.
Other early versions are from Cox, Folk Songs of the South, 1925, who reports 12 versions A-L with one version from the diary of Abraham Staats (born in New Castle County, DE in 1750 and died in present day Jackson County WV in 1826) that clearly dates back to the 1700s (no text provided). Next there is Sharp's EFFSA Vol. I (1917) and II (1932) with texts and music A-M dating from 1916 to 1918. Versions J-M only have one verse with the music. The other early large collections are Davis' Traditional Ballads of Virginia with texts A-N and two supplemental texts from outside Virginia and Barry, Eckstorm and Smyth's British Ballad from Maine with texts A-O. After 1930 we have The Brown Collection of NC Folklore has texts A-D with additional music versions. From the mid-west Belden has A-E (Ballads and Folk Songs- Missouri) and Randolph's Ozark Folk-Songs has A-D. Flanders Ancient Ballads is the largest collection with versions A-S.
Curiously, this ballad dates back only to the 1700s in Great Britain but it's of a similar age in the US and Canada. It's popularity in New England in the late 1700s has been established by Child and Barry. The older and better North American versions include the stanza about the dogs (hounds) which eat the table scraps of "eel and broth" and are sick and dying- revealing definitively that their master, "Lord Randal," has been poisoned and is also dying- therefore he must make his will. He wills usually "Hell and brimstone" (and even in one instance a keg of gunpowder to blow up his poisoner) to the member of the family who administers the poison.
I've yet to determine if the Croodin' Doo (Child versions J-O), also titled "Wee Croodin Doo" (Little Cooing Dove), is traditional in the US and Canada. There are four versions in my collection and one, published by Morris in Folksongs of Florida, is not traditional. Bronson as his No. 101 prints a version from Dr. Desmond Powell that was recorded in the early 1950s (Eskin, Sierra Record FMI, 7) which may a new melody but not text. It's hard to tell whether this is definitively traditional in the United Sates, for now I'll assume it is. Eskin traveled around the world recording folk material and could have recorded it anywhere. The Powell/Eskin version was covered a cappella by Peggy Seeger, on Long Harvest, Vol. 1 (Child ballads) with the title: Croodin Doo (American), giving credence to the version being traditional (although not every ballad on Long Harvest is a cover of a traditional song). The Burl Ives version recorded in 1959 could be arranged from a variety of sources or it could have possibly been heard by Ives during his 20s when he was a wandering folk singer. The Patrick Gainer version, titled John Randall, is probably a ballad recreation, and likely not traditional. It can be heard online (Gainer's version C) at West Virginia University's digital collections.
There are two distinct sources of French version in the US and Canada. The largest group is the Acadian in Canada. According to Robert Paquin:
French versions of 'Lord Randal' were collected on the Atlantic coast of Canada, despite the fact that this song is unknown in France. In French, the song is called 'Le Testament du gargon empoisonné.' Marius Barbeau collected three versions in 1923, Dominique Gauthier, one in 1953, and another was collected by the periodical La Voix d'Evangiline and is part of the J. T. LeBlanc collection. Quite recently, Robert Bouthillier and Vivian Labrie have obtained thirteen more versions. Versions of the Barbeau collection proceed from Port Daniel, county Bonaventure in Quebec, while the Gauthier and Leblanc texts proceed from New Brunswick, the former from Evangeline county Gloucester, and the latter from Saint-Antoine county Kent. The Bouthillier-Labrie collection, on the other hand, proceeds entirely from either county Gloucester or Northumberland, in New Brunswick. In short, all versions of 'Le testament du garqon empoisonné' come from that region which, under the French regime, constituted 'Acadie' and is still known under that name by French speakers.
The other French variant(s) are from Louisiana, which apparently come from a translation of Child D (Scott-1803) which was taught school children in 1855. One of apparently two versions was published by Beck in 1964 titled, Seigneur Randal.
R. Matteson 2011, 2014]
CONTENTS: Individual version may be accessed by clicking on the title attached to this page on left-hand column or by clicking on the highlighted blue title below.
1) Tiranti, my Son- Wesselhoeft (MA) c.1797 Child I a--From English and Scottish Popular Ballads, Child 1882 Vol. 1. Learned in Maine by Elizabeth Foster, apparently from her father, Justus Soper, when she was a child- since she was born in 1798, I've given a date of c.1797 when she was 10. Child dates it circa 1800, about the time the family relocated in Massachusetts. The stanza order has been changed. It will be noted that it's the grandmother who poisons the boy.
2) Tiranti, my Son- an aunt (MA) c.1797 Child I b--From English and Scottish Popular Ballads, Child 1882 Vol. 1. As given by Mrs. L.F. Wesselhoeft's aunt, learned from Elizabeth Foster, her mother about 1820. This also is derived from Foster and the changes from I a to make this version are given by Child in End Notes.
3) Fair Nelson, My Son- Cobleigh (VT) c1805 Barry R--From Traditional Ballads in New England. III by Phillips Barry; The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 18, No. 71 (Oct. - Dec., 1905), pp. 291-304. Barry only identifies the informant as R.B.C.--Flanders gives the last name of the informant in Ancient Ballads as does Bronson in Traditional Tunes.
4) Tiranti, my Son- Marston (MA) c.1810 Child I c-- From English and Scottish Popular Ballads, Child 1882 Vol. 1. As given by Miss Ellen Marston of New Bedford, this variant was learned from her mother who was born in 1778. Child lists seven versions of I, all from the US, but doesn't offer individual texts. Instead he gives the text of I a and the changes from I a to make the other versions.
5) Fair Elson- A.M. (NE) c.1813 JAF Barry C--My title. First published: The Ballad of Lord Randal in New England by Phillips Barry; then in The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 16, No. 63 (Oct. - Dec., 1903), pp. 258-264. Ballad of Lord Randal is Barry's first article, an important study of the Child ballad, Lord Randal.
6) Sweet William- Lincoln (MA) c1823 JAF Barry B
Tiranti, my Son- Richardson (NH) c1830 Child I h
Lord Randall- Brigham (MA) pre1830 JAF Brown
Tyrante, my Son- Cushing (MA) 1838 Child I d
Terence My Son- Martin (MA) 1843 JAF Barry J
My Own Pretty Boy- McKenney (MA) 1843 Barry H
Andrew My Son- Andrus (NY) 1844 Allen
Tyranty, My Son- Turner (MA) c.1849 BBM - O
Tiranti, my Son- Lawrence (MA) pre1850 Child I e-f
Tiranti, my Son- Lowell (MA) pre1850 Child I g
Dear Willie, My Son- Burgoyne(MA) c1853 Barry F, G
Orlando, My Son- Utter (MA-NH) 1854 AFL Barry L
Sweet Nelson- Collins (NH) c1854 JAF Barry D
Tyranty My Son- Hopkinson (MA) c1855 Barry O
Lord Randall- Smiths (VA-NC) c1855 Davis AA
Tyranty- Bartlett (MA) c.1862 Flanders D
William, My Son- Wilson (CA-WV) c1865 McClellan
Mother, Make My Bed Soon- Tatro (VT) 1865 Flan B
My Dearest One- Gilley (ME) 1865 Stanley BBM- C
Dear Wilson, My Son- Marston (ME) 1867 BBM- E
Lord Nelson- Jepson (UT) 1874 Hubbard B
Lord Lantoun- old lady (RI) 1875 JAF Barry A
My Own Dearest One- Leary (ME) c1876 BBM - G
Johnnie Randal- Hedrick (WV) 1876 Cox D
Lorenzo, My Son- Partlow (VT) c1879 Flanders I
Fair Randall- Black (ME) c.1880 BBM- A
Tiranti, my Son- a lady (NH) pre1880 Child I i
My Rambling Young Son- Kinkaid(MO) 1880 Belden D
Johnny Randall- Clayton (MO) c.1885; Randolph C
Dirante, My Son- Kelley (MA) late1880s Linscott
Young Nelson- Degreenia (CT) c1889 Flanders C
Willie, My Son- Luther (WV) c.1890 Cox F
Where Have You Been?- Purcel (VA) 1890 Davis BB
Dirandell- Bundy (WI) c.1891 WI Collection online
Billy, My Son- Young (ME) pre1896 BBM- F
Lord Randal- Bowen (TN) 1897 SFQ Mason
McDonald- Means (SC) 1899- Smith A
Fair Andrew- Mendall (ME) pre1900 JAF
O Charlie, My Son- Bergen (OH) 1900 JAF Newell A
My Dear Little One- Thrush (OH) 1900 JAF Newell B
Dear Lord Duke- Brown (NB) 1900 JAF Newell C
Lord Donald- Scotch variant (US) 1900 Newell D
Johnny Randall- House (CO) 1902 Pound
Johnnie Randolph, My Son- Steele (VA) 1902 Davis H
Henry, My Son- Carr (SK) pre1903 REC Cass-Beggs
Teronto, My Son- Johnson (MA) 1904 JAF Barry E
Tyrante My Son- J.E.W. (MA) 1904 Barry I
Tyranting, My Son- G.T.A. (MA) 1904 Barry N
Fileander, My Son- Marcy (VT) 1904 Barry Q
Jimmy Rando- Denny (MO) c1904 Belden E
Taranty My Son- Krehbiel (NY-CT) 1905 JAF Barry K
Taranty My Son- J.P.T. (NE) 1905 JAF Barry M
Tyranty My Son- E. W. (MA) 1905 JAF Barry P
My Own Pretty Boy- Welsh (ME) 1907 Barry V
Tarranty, My Son- Hussey (NJ-NY) 1907 BFS Barry
Tyranna, My Son- Adams (ME) 1907 BBM - L
My Fine Handsome Boy- G. (ME) 1908 Barry W
Ramble, My Son- Conner (PA) 1909 Barry MS
Lord Randal- McKinney (GA) 1910, Rawn- Sharp E
Lord Ronald, My Son- McGill (NB) pre1911 BBM- H
John Randall- Smith (MO) 1912 Belden A
Henry, My Son- Wedgwood (MA) 1912 Barry MS
Poor Anzo- King (SC) 1913- Smith B
My Dear Son- Purcell (VA) 1913 Davis E
Durango- Rippey (OK) 1913 Davis Appendix B
Johnny Randall- McDonald (MO) 1914 Belden B
Henry, My Son- Dodge (NYC) 1914 Davis App A
My Dear Son- Blaine (VA) 1914 Davis G
Billy Randall- Hale (VA) 1914; Davis I
Tiranti, My Son- Byers (NC) 1914 Brown A
Randal, My Son- (KY) c1914 McGill
Henry, My Son- children (NY) c.1914 Kittredge
Lord Randal- Hardman (WV) 1915 Cox C
John Willow, My Son- Crawford (VA) 1915 Davis A
Tom Randall- African-American (VA) 1915 Davis K
Lord Randal- McKinney (WV) 1916 Cox A
Johnny Randolph- Miller (WV) pre1916 Cox B
Henry My Son- Shapiro (WV) 1916 White; Cox E
Lord Randal My Son- Lynch (VA) 1916 Davis L
Jimmy Randolph- Shelton (NC) 1916- Sharp A
Jimmy Randal- Sands (NC) 1916- Sharp B
Jimmy Randal- Hensley (NC) 1916- Sharp C
Jimmy Randal- Wells (NC) 1916- Sharp D
Lord Randal- Eva Case (MO) 1916 Belden C
O Randal- Dunagan (KY) 1917 Sharp F
My Rambling Young Son- Maples (TN) 1917 Sharp G
Jimmy Ransing- (IN) pre1917 JAF Kittredge
Lord Rendal- Smith (KY) 1917 Sharp MS
McDonald- McClurg (VA) 1918 Davis C
John Randolph- Maddox (VA) 1918 Sharp H
John Randolph- Wheeler (Va.) 1918 Sharp I
Jimmie Randolph- Boone (NC) 1918 Sharp J
Jimmy Randal- Campbell (VA) 1918 Sharp K
Jimmy Randolph- Chisholm (VA) 1918 Sharp L
My Son- Richards (VA) 1918 Sharp M
Jim Randolph- Mitchelll (NC) 1918 Sharp MS
Jim Riley- Long (VA) 1918 Sharp MS
Jonny Rilla- Wood (VA) 1919; Davis F
Wooing and Death of John Randal- French (PA) 1919
Randal, My Son- (KY) pre1919 JAF Shearin
Johnny Rillus- Via (VA) 1920 Stone; Davis B
Ransel, My Son- Hart (VA) 1921 Davis D
Johnny Randolph- Hayes (AR) 1920 Randolph A
Jimmy Ransome- Frank Proffitt (NC) c. 1920s
Lord Randall- Frank Proffitt (NC) c. 1920s
My Loved One- Erskine (ME- CT) 1920s Flanders P
Lord Randall- (NC) c.1921 Sutton; Brown B
Johnny Reynolds- Hurt (VA) 1921; Davis J
John Elzie- Morris (VA) 1922; Davis M
Randall, My Son- M.B.D.L. (MA) 1922 BBM - N
Lord Randal- Emma Schrader (IL) 1922 Tolman
Lord Randal- Peel (VA) 1923; Davis N
Lorendo- Tillett (NC) 1924 Chappell
Lord Randal- Mary Riddle (NC) 1926 Henry
Johnny Randall- Lewis (MO) 1927; Randolph B
Henry, My Son- Mirkin (Ohio) 1927 Eddy B
Jimmy Randal- Trumpower (Ohio) 1927 Eddy D
Lord Randall- Thornton (ME) 1927 BBM- B
Willie Ransome- Barnett (NC) 1928 Sutton; Brown C
Henery, My Son- Henneberry (NS) c.1928 Creighton
Fair Randall- Robbins (ME) 1928 BBM- D
The Jealous Lover- Caldwell (WV) 1928 Cox
Lord Randall- Sullivan (WI-MO) c.1929 REC Beers
Mother, Make My Bed Soon- Lorette (VT) 1930
Mother, Make My Bed- Lorette (VT) 1930 Flanders H
Tyranty, My Son- Bourne (VT) 1930 Flanders Q
The Cup of Cold Poison- Bell (MI) 1931 Gardner
Jimmy Randal- Holcolm (KY) 1932 Niles A
My Own Darling Boy- Sullivan (VT) 1932 Flanders G
Taranty, My Son- Wheeler (VT) 1932 Flanders J
Lord Randall- Ingalls (VT) 1932 Flanders S
Jimmy Randal- Daniels (VT) c1932 Barry MS
Jeems Randal- Sexton (VA) 1932 Davis EE
Johnny Randolph- Brewer (IL) 1932 McIntosh
Jo Reynard my Son- (PA) c.1932 Barry/Bayard
Jimmy Rendal- Shepard (VT) 1933 Flanders A
Johnny Randal- Dick (VA) 1933 Davis DD
Tiranti, My Love- Ratliff (KY) 1934; Niles B
Uriar, My Son- Johnson (IL) 1934 McIntosh
Randal, My Son- Granny Potter (NC) pre-1935
Jimmy Randal- McAllister (VA) 1935 Wilkinson MS
Johnny Rillow- Lam (VA) 1935; Wilkinson B
Three Cups of Cold Poison- Dillan (IN) 1936 Brew
Lord Randall- Bilby (MS) 1936 Criss; Hudson A
Randall, My Son- Ferguson (KY-MS) 1936 Hudson B
Dear Adel, My Son- Vinton (CA) 1938 Cowell REC
Lord Randall- Evelyn Grant (MS) c.1938 Carpenter
Lord Ronald- Jane Small (OH) pre1939 Eddy A
Henry, My Son- Lavey (Ohio) pre1939 Eddy C
Johnny Randall- Prather (NC) 1939 Brown 4B-2
Willie Ransome- Gordon (NC) 1939 Brown 4C 1
My Own Darling Boy- Spaulding (CT) 1939 Flanders F
The Poisoned Child- Deutsch (FL) c.1940 Morris
Jimmy Ransom- York (NC) 1941 Abrams REC
Jimmy Randall- Short (Mo.) 1941 Randolph D
Lord Randall- Webb (NC) 1941 Brown 4B 1
Lord Randal- Thompson (VA) 1941 WPA Hylton
Lord Randall- pupil (NC) pre1943 Vaught; Brown D
Tyranty- Hills (RI) 1945 Flanders R
Lord Henry- Moses (ME) 1947 Flanders L
Lord Nelson- Bracey (ME) 1947 Flanders N
Lord Ransom- Bronson (UT) 1947 Hubbard A
Sweet Nelson, My Son- Lewis (ME) 1948 Flanders O
My Ramboling Son- McFarlin (OK) c1950 Moores
Croodin Doo- Powell/Eskin (AZ) 1950 Bronson 101
Henery, My Son- McNab (NS) pre1950 Creighton B
Henery, My Son- Smith (NS) pre1950 Creighton C
Duratta, My Son- Williams (TN) c1951 Boswell
Willie, My Son- Moses (NH) 1951 Flanders M
Jimmy Randal- Begley (KY) 1952 Roberts
Lord Randall- Staton (TN-GA) c.1953 Boswell A
Lord Randall- Moomaw (VA) 1954 Coltman
Lord Randall- Freeman (AR) 1954 Parler
Lord Randal- old lady (NC) 1955 Moser REC
Johnnie Randall- Hawkins (WV) 1957 JAF Musick B
Johnnie Randall- Pease (WV) 1957 JAF Musick A
John Rounders My Son- Jenkins (AR) 1958 Parler
Lord Randall- Jimmy Driftwood (AR) 1959 Wolf
Lord Randall- Ritchie (KY) c.1959 Folkways REC
John Ellis, My Son- (WV) c.1960s Gainer A
Johnny Randal- Thomas (WV) c.1960s Gainer B
John Randall- (WV) c.1960s WVU Gainer C
Lord Randolph- Heekin (US) 1962 REC Rosenbaum
Lord Randall- Morris (MO) 1962; Max Hunter
Sweet Angia- Freeman (AR) 1963 Max Hunter
Henery my Boy- Vicki Brandon (ON) 1962 Fowke
Johnny Randall- Older (NY) 1963 REC Paton
Jimmy Random, My Son- Dawson (OK) 1964 Moores
Seigneur Randal- (LA) pre1964 Beck
Randal my Son- anon (KY) c.1965 Jameson
My Bonny Bonny Boy- Cleveland (NY) 1966 REC
Jimmy Randolph- Gilbert (AR) 1969 Max Hunter
Lord Randall- Almeda Riddle (Ark.) 1970 Wolf
Le Testament- Brideau (NB) 1976 Paquin
Willy my Son- Phyliss Mark (WV) 1976 Bush, vol. 5
___________
Two version from Carpenter Collection- first is a copy of Child A from Mrs. Stull- not traditional - the second is a fragment from Mississippi:
James Madison Carpenter Collection, JMC/1/6/6/K, pp. 10297-10298 [This is Child A and is not traditional]
Lord Randal- MS sent in by Margaret Stull of Waynesboro, Penn.
Reference Code AFC 1972/001, MS pp. 10268- 10269 no date or location about 1938.
1 "Oh, Where ha you been Lord Ronald, my son?
And where ha you been, my handsome young man?"
"I ha been to the greenwood, mother, mak my bed soon,
For I'm wearied wi' huntin', an' fain wad lie down."
Fragment from the US from James Madison Carpenter Collection, JMC/1/4/L, p. 07514. Fairly close to the Scottish versions.
Lord Randall- sent in by Evelyn Grant of Plantersville, Miss. Learned from her mother Mrs. J.S. Grant, no date but around 1938
1 "O where have you been, Lord Randall, my son?
O where have you been, my handsome young man?"
"I've been to the woods, mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm weary with hunting, and fain would lie down."
2 "Where did you get your dinner, Lord Randall, my son?
Where did you get your dinner, my handsome young man?"
"I dined with my truelove, Mother make my bed soon,
For I'm weary with hunting, and fain would lie down."
3 "What did ye have for dinner, Lord Randall, my son?
What did ye have for dinner, my handsome young man?"
"Eels fried in butter, Mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm weary with hunting, and fain would lie down."
---------------------------
Excerpt from "Following Music" in a Mountain Land by Josephine McGill from The Musical Quarterly, Vol. 3, No. 3 (Jul., 1917), pp. 364-384 [See Josephine McGill version with music in Folk Songs of the Kentucky Mountains.]
With this so poignant a memory, the ballad-seeker's delight may be fancied on hearing in a squalid mountain cabin the somewhat similar Lord Randal:
Where have you been Randal, it's Randal, my son,
Where have you been, Randal, my pretty sweet one?
O I've been a-courting, Mother make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at the heart and I fain would lie down.
What will you leave to your father, it's Randal, my son?
What will you leave to your father, my pretty sweet one?
My land and fine buildings, Mother make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at the heart and I fain would lie down.
Through legacies to the brother, sister, and mother the "incremental repetition" proceeds, attaining the dramatic climax
similar to that of Edward:
What will you leave to your sweetheart, it's Randal, my son?
What will you leave to your sweetheart, my pretty sweet one?
A rope and a gallows, Mother make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at the heart and I fain would lie down.
The music for this miracle of terse drama and pathos is in major key, swiftly moving in what Professor Gummere terms "abounding triple measure." The ballad is evidently a prized and common heritage of the descendants of Kentucky pioneers. One version from the Bluegrass section begins: "Where have you been Randal, taranter, my son?" Another variant heard from an old negro nurse characteristically runs: "Where have you been Miranda?" Miss Lucy Furman, who has so ably reproduced the mountain types in her stories, Mothering on Perilous, Sight to the Blind, etc., heard her grandfather sing: "Where have you been, Ronald?" This version doubtless antedates Sir Walter Scott's alteration of the hero's name to Randal, thereby connecting the episode with the death of Randolph, Earl of Murray.
_________________
Ballads and Songs
G. L. Kittredge
The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 30, No. 117 (Jul. - Sep., 1917), pp. 283-369
LORD RANDAL (Child, No. 12).
Innumerable copies have been collected in America: see the references given by Tolman and Kittredge (JAFL 29: 157). Add JAFL 22 : 75, 77 (tune); 23 : 443-444 (tunes); 26 : 353; 27: 59, 62, 63; 28 : 200-202; Virginia Folk-Lore Society, Bulletin, No. 2, p. 4; No. 3, P. 3; No. 4, P. 5; No. 5, PP. 5-6; F. C. Brown, p. 9; Cox, 45: 160 (JAFL 29: 400). Miss Josephine McGill has recently printed a full text, with music, in her "Folk-Songs of the Kentucky Mountains" (New York, 1917), PP. 18-22.[9]
A copy from Ohio communicated by Professor John S. Kenyon of Butler College, Indianapolis, in 1914, as written down by Mr. Robert Buck, agrees with one of Professor Tolman's (JAFL 29 : 157) not only in the hero's name (Johnny Ramble), but in the vigor of the bequest to his "true-love," - "hell fire and brimstone." [10 Another, from southern Indiana, communicated by Mr. Wallace C. Wadsworth, ends curiously: -
"What will you will to your sweetheart, Jimmy Ransing, my son?
What will you will to your sweetheart, my dear little one?"
"A bunch of balm to make her bones grow brown,
For she is the cause of my long lying down."
This, too, is similar to Tolman's copy, just mentioned: -
"All hell and damnation, for to parch her soul brown,
For she is the one that has caused me lie down."
In two copies communicated by Miss Louise Whitefield Bray in 1914, as sung by New York children ("Henry, or Henry, my Son"), a sister is the poisoner, and in one of these there is an additional stanza after the bequest of the "ropes to hang her:"
"Who will you have to the funeral, Henry, my son?
Who will you have to the funeral, my loving one?"
"All but sister, all but sister!
Make my bed; I've a pain in my side,
And I want to lie down and die."
In this same copy we have a bequest "to baby;" namely, "gods and angels" (in the other, "a kiss from heaven"). Another copy (apparently from the same source as Miss Bray's) has "guardian angels" as the bequest "for baby," and "a rope to hang her" as that "for sister." It concludes:
"Who do you want at the funeral, Henry, my son?
Who do you want at the funeral, my loving one?"
"All but sister, all but sister!
Make my bed; I've a pain in my head,
And I want to lie down and die."
"How do you want your bed made?" etc.
"Long and narrow, long and narrow.
Make my bed," etc.
This was communicated by Mr. John R. Reinhard, of Mount Holyoke College, in 1917, as taken down by one of his students who did "settlement work" in New York in the summer preceding, and heard it sung by the children. An excellent version, genuinely traditional, and running stanza for stanza with Child's A, has been communicated by Professor Belden (I916), who received it from Mrs. Case (see p. 322, below). The tune follows: -
[Music]
Oh, where have you been, Lord Randal, my son?
Oh, where h ave you been, my handsome young man?
O h, I've been to the wildwood; Mother, make my bed soon,
I'm weary of hunting and I fain would lie down.
__________________
Excerpt from The British Traditional Ballad in North America by Tristram Coffin, 1950
from the section A Critical Biographical Study of the Traditional Ballads of North America
12. LORD RANDAL
Texts: Barry, Brit Bids Me, 46 / Belden, Mo F-S, 24 / Brewster, Bids Sgs Ind, 5 1 / Brown Coll/ BFSSNE, I, /BullUSC 162, /Chzpvdl /F-S RnkeAlb, 14.7 Child, I, 163 / Cox, F-S South, 23 / Cox, Trd Bid WVa /WVa School Journal and Educator, XLV, 266 / Davis, Trd Bid Fa, 105 / Decennial Publication, Univ. of Chicago, 1903, VII, 140 / Eddy, Bids Sgs Ohio, 21 / Flanders, Ft F-S Bids, 197 j Focus, III, 399; IV, 31, 100 / Gardner and Chickering, Bids Sgs So Mich, 35 / Garrison, Searcy Cnty, 30 / Harper's Mgz (May, 1915), 908 / Haun, Cocke Cnty, j% / Henry, F~S So Hghlds, 45 / Hudson, F-S Miss, 69 / Hudson, Spec Miss F-L, #4 / Hummel, OzF-S / JAFL, XIII, 1155 XVI, 258; XVIII, 195, 303, 376; XXIV, 3455 XXIX, t57; XXX, 289; XXXV, 339; XXXIX, 8i; XLII, 257; XLIV, 302 / Kolb, Treasry F-S, 14 / Linscott, F-S Old NE, 191 / Macintosh, F-S So III, 26 / Mason, Cannon Cnty, 13 / McGill, F-S Ky Mts, 19 / MLN, XVII, 12 / MLR, XIV, 21 1 / AW Pbil, XXIX, 105 / Morm, F-S Fla, 379 / Musical Quarterly ', II, 127 / Narragansett Times, 2 2 '45 / Niles, BB & Lv Sgs Tgc Lgds, 14 / Niles, Anglo-Am Bid Stdy Bk, 6 / Pound, Am Bids Sgs, 3 / Pound, Nebr Syllabus, 9 / Outlook, LXIII, 121 / Randolph, Oz F-S, I, 63 / Randolph, Oz Mt Flk, 215 / Scarborough, Sgctchr So Mts, 178 / Sewanee Review, XIX, 3177 SharpC, EngF-S So Aplchns, #6 / Sharp K, Eng F-S So Aplchns, I, 38 / Shoemaker, Mt Mnstly, 144 / Shoemaker, No Pa Mnstly, 139 / Shearin and Combs, Ky Syllabus, 7 / Reed Smith, SC Bids, 101 / 7 a FLS uH, pz 5, 7 i r.
Local Titles: A Rope and Gallows, Billy Randall, Dear Willie, Durango, Fair Nelson My Son, Henry My Son, Jimmie Randall (Randolph, etc.), John Elzie, Johnny Randall (Rilla, Reeler, Ramsay, Riller, Reynolds, Ramble, Rillus, Randolph, etc.), Johnnie Randolph My Son, John Willow My Son, Lord Lantoun, Lord Ronald My Son, McDonald, Mother Make My Bed Soon, Poor Anzo, Randall (Ransel, etc.) My Son, Sweet William, Terence, The Cup of Cold Poison, Three Cups of Cold Poison, The Jealous Lover, The Poisoned Child, Tyranty (many spellings), Tyranty My Son, Uriar My Son, Where Have You Been to My Dear Son?, Willy Ransome, Wooing and Death of John Randal.
Story Types:
A: A man, through a dialogue with his mother, tells that he has spent the night with his sweetheart, eaten a poisoned supper, and is now sick. His dogs usually are revealed to have died from the leavings. In his last "bequests" the sweetheart is cursed and shown to be the murderer.
Examples: Belden (C); Cox, F-S South (A);
Davis (A); Reed Smith (A).
B: The story is the same as that of Type A, except that the hero forgives his sweetheart and seems to remain faithful to her although he knows she has poisoned him. Examples: Davis (L).
C: Some versions name other persons than the sweetheart as the murderer. Henry (Randal's brother), grandmother, sister, stepmother, wife, grandpa, and even Randal himself has this role.
Examples: Barry (K, 0); Cox, F-S South (E);
Davis, p. 1189; Eddy (B, C); Gardner and dickering;
JAFL, XVIII, 201 ff.; Linscott.
D: There is a Massachusetts version in which Randal goes fishing and catches an eel which he cooks and eats by mistake. The dialogue consists of his mother's discovery of the fatal error.
Examples: Barry (N). -
E: The same story as that of Type A, except the sister and the sweetheart have conspired to kill Randal.
Examples: Shoemaker, Mt. Mnstly,
Discussion: This ballad has extremely long and varied European, British, and American traditions (See Child, 1, 151 ff. and Barry, Brit Bids Me, 611.). It is said to be the most popular purely traditional song in America, for there have been no pocket songster versions to aid its spread as has been the case of Barbara Allen and Lord Thomas and Fair Annet (See Barry, Brit
Bids Me, 65). In the texts, there are any number of detail variations, but the story itself has remained quite constant.
This song has been the subject of a large amount of study and research, most of it connected with the names given the hero (See Zielonko, Some American Variants of Child Ballads, 47 and Reed Smith, SC Bids, 56). The alliance of the Randolph family of Virginia and West Virginia with the story has been noted by Davis, Trd Bid Fa, 105, although Vance Randolph, Oz F-S I, 63 points out that the ballad was aligned with the Randolphs in the Old World as well. Check, too, Scott, Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border (1902 ed.), Ill, 51.) Scott also indicates in the same work the similarity of the story to that of King John's death. See the Child C "King Henry" type, retained in Cox, F-S South, E.
The poison used by the true-love is generally considered to be snakes, served as eels or fish (Child, I, 155), although frequently she may serve simply poison or some such corruption as "ale" (eel), or even the cold cakes and coffee of Cox, F-S South, H. (See JAFL, XVI, 259.) Toads and reptiles of other sorts are also used, and Barry, Brit Bids Me, 61 points out that
newts were, by many people, considered poisonous when eaten.
The death wished for the true-love is by "hell-fire and brimstone" (Cox, of cit., A) in most American versions, while the death of the hawks and dogs is often omitted.
The story groups do not vary in general character, although they change in mood and motive. The Type C ballads in which the grandmother is the villain are probably the results of influence by the Scottish Croodlin Doo texts (Barry, Br it Bids Me, 66) and in New England frequently refer to the man as Tyranti. Barry, op. cit., 71 2 deftly explains this grandmother intrusion into the American texts. He believes the Child J-0 series tells a story in which a stepmother poisons a boy with small fish, and the dying youth is questioned by the ghost of his natural mother. This incident became rationalized as people ceased to believe in ghosts, and the grandmother and the natural mother herself were substituted into the narrative. Once this had happened, other members of the family might have slipped in. Type D he feels was "communally recreated" from Type C. Reed Smith in his chapter "The Road Downhill" in SC Bids, 64 prints a Poor Anzo version that is unbelievably corrupt and that should be studied carefully as the extreme of transmission degeneration. Besides the new name of the hero, the mother's questions mean little: "What did you leave your father (etc.) for, Anzo, my son ?" His reply that he has this or that is equally pointless. When asked why he left his sweetheart Anzo says, "Here is a red hot iron will broil a bone". Finally the mother wants to know what
he'll have for supper, and his reply, "Make me a little breely broth soup" is a consistent close. No mention is made of Anzo's having been poisoned.
Other deviations and corruptions of note are: i. Shoemaker, Mt Mnstly, 145 prints a footnote indicating that the Type E version from Pennsylvania has a funeral and a bequest for an unborn child. 2. The Flanders, Ft F-S Bids, 197 text has the lad give nothing at all to his mother and "hell, etc." to the sweetheart, which might possibly be a transfer of the Edward theme of maternal instigation through the similarity of endings. However, it is just as likely not. 3. Niles, Bins Lv Sgs Tgc Lgds, 14 prints a version that has the final request of "Randal" that he be laid at his grandfather's son (probably uncle here) ? s side.
Taylor, Mod Phil, XXIX, 105 points out that the hunting in the greenwood and the meeting the true-love are incompatible and suggests the former is a contamination that occurred in Britain, possibly from The King's Dochter Lady Jean. This contamination then has become deeply rooted in 12.
For remarks on the relationship of this ballad to Billy Boy see Linscott, F-S Old NE, 1 66 and Sharp, 100 English Folk-Songs, p. xxxiv. For an analysis of a South Atlantic States "poor buckra" text see C. E. Means, Outlook, Sept. 1899, 121. Jane Zielonko, Some American Variants of Child Ballads, 41 ff . discusses a number of American texts in great detail.
_________________
NYC, December 28, 1944; Lord Randall, My Son Decca 24238, DL5247, BL8665, Br£ LA8653
re-released on Josh White Vol. 6 (1944-1945).
"Lord Randall, My Son" Josh White
Where have you been all the day, Randall my son?
Where have you been all
day, my purdy one?
I've been to my sweetheart's mother
I've been to my sweetheart's mother
Chorus: Oh, make my bed soon
For I'm sick to my heart and I fain would lie down,
What did she feed you, Randall, my son?
What did she feed you, my purdy one?
A cup of cold poison, Mother
A cup of cold poison, Mother.
Chorus: Oh, make my bed soon
For I'm sick to my heart and I fain would lie down,
What will you leave your mother, Randall my son?
What will you leave your mother, my purdy one?
A dead son to bury, mother
A dead son to bury, mother
Chorus: Oh, make my bed soon
For I'm sick to my heart and I fain would lie down.
What will you leave your sweetheart, Randall my son?
What will you leave your mother, my purdy one?
A rope to hang her, mother
A rope to hang her, mother
Chorus: Oh, make my bed soon
For I'm sick to my heart and I fain would lie down.
--------------
Lord Randall- Child 12
Compiled and edited by Robert B. Waltz in celebration of the Minnesota Sesquicentennial
Similar in form to Josh White above, but with an extra repetition perhaps from "Pallet on the Floor: "Make it soft, makes it low"
Where have you been all the day, Randall, my son?
Where have you been all the day, my pretty one?
I’ve been to my sweetheart’s, mother.
I’ve been to my sweetheart’s, mother.
Mother, make my bed soft, mother, make my bed soon,
For I’m sick to the heart and I fain would lie down.
What have you been eating there, Randall, my son?
What have you been eating there, my pretty one?
Eels and eel broth, mother.
Eels and eel broth, mother.
Mother, make my bed soft, mother, make my bed soon,
For I’m sick to the heart and I fain would lie down.
I fear you be dying, oh, Randall, my son.
I fear you be dying, oh, my pretty one.
Yes, mother, I know I’m a-dying.
Yes, mother, I know I’m a-dying.
Mother, make my bed soft, mother, make my bed soon,
For I’m sick to the heart and I fain would lie down.
And what will you leave us all, Randall, my son?
What will you leave us all, my pretty one?
My lands and my friendship, mother,
My lands and my friendship, mother,
Mother, make my bed soft, mother, make my bed soon,
For I’m sick to the heart and I fain would lie down.
And what for your sweetheart, oh, Randall, my son?
What for your sweetheart, oh, my pretty one?
The gallows tree for to hang her.
The gallows tree for to hang her.
Mother, make my bed soft, mother, make my bed soon,
For I’m sick to the heart and I fain would lie down.
(Click here for a PDF version of the music) * (Click here to hear an MP3 Version)
This, like “The House Carpenter” and “The Golden Vanity,” is one of the great British ballads. It has been collected hundreds of times, in England, Scotland, Ireland, Canada, and all parts of the United States. There are similar songs in Swedish, Danish, Magyar, Italian, German, Wendish, and probably other languages.
Is it known in Minnesota? This is a worse stumper than usual. Let it be said that it has not been collected in Minnesota. Midwestern collections are few — there is one from Michigan, a few from Illinois, and one from Wisconsin (Madison).
And yet, I know a version, and the form does not resemble any known traditional version. This implies that I did not learn it from a record. So how did I learn it? On a playground somewhere? From some long-forgotten concert? I’ve no idea. On the grounds that it may be a Minnesota variant, I’m including it.
This song displays several common folk themes, notably the dialog between mother and son. But the last couple of verses are also intriguing. It is common, in folk song, for a person who is dying to make bequests. The final bequest here, of the gallows tree for his sweetheart, is interesting. It reveals that the sweetheart murdered Randall, and he knew it. At no point, we note, does he actually name his murderer. Instead, he leaves gifts to his family and friends (these are enumerated in the longer traditional versions) — and leaves the gallows to the sweetheart. This particular trick occurs in at least two other English ballads, “The Cruel Brother” and (certain version of) “Edward.”
Several explanations have been offered for why the girl offered Randall eels to eat. Some cultures thought eels poisonous or otherwise unfit for consumption. But the best guess is that they were (poisonous) snakes, with their venom, disguised as eels. In any case, they poisoned Randall, and the poisoning was deliberate.
Source: As mentioned above, this is from my own personal memory. At least, the first verse is. Many years ago, when I realized that I had a unique form of the song (most versions have a shorter form of the fifth line), that was all I could recall. So I added four more verses based on other versions of the song to make a coherent, if very short form of the song.
If anyone has heard a version with this form and tune, I would love to know about it.
------------------
Missing versions: Not sure if Josh White's version (above) is traditional- I doubt it. I only have one of the WPA versions (from Virginia), for now I'm not putting the Cox six versions (Folk-Songs of the South G-L) he listed but didn't give the text or music. I'll list them immediately below. The Library of Congress recordings would need to be ordered if they are available.
Folk Songs of the South G-L- missing texts and music:
G. "Johnny Randolph." Communicated by Miss Lily Hagans, Morgantown, Monongalia County, January 20, 1916; obtained from Mrs. Beulah Bay Richey, who learned it from her mother, a member of the Caldwell family of Wheeling, a family of Irish descent who came to Wheeling before the Revolution. A fragment of four stanzas.
H. "Johnny Ramsey." Communicated by Miss Margaret Richards, Fairmont, Marion County, April 26, 1916; obtained from Mrs. Lawrence Roby, Lowesville. A fragment in five stanzas in which Johnny Ramsey has been out with his dogs and had cold cakes and warm coffee for dinner.
I. "Lord Randal." Communicated by Mr. Harold Staats, Ripley, Jackson County, July, 1921, who writes: "This song is given in the diary of my great-great-grandfather, Abraham Staats, as sung by the early pioneers in Jackson County. I have heard it sung by different people, especially in the country. A fragment in five stanzas, in which the hero has had a cup of poison and wills to his sweetheart "Ten thousand weights of brimstone to burn her bones brown."
[Abraham Staats was born in New Castle County DE in 1750 and died. in present day Jackson County WV in 1826. He married Anna King in DE. about 1772.]
J. "Lord Randal." Communicated by Mr. S. M. Kelley, Suter, Pennsylvania, July, 1921, but collected in West Virginia. A fragment in five stanzas, almost exactly like variant I.
K. "Johnny Reeler." Communicated by Mr. C. R. Bishop, Green Bank, Pocahontas County, 1921; obtained from Miss Blanche Patterson, from Mrs. Dora Moomau, who learned it at school in Timberville, Virginia. A fragment in six stanzas, in which Johnny has for supper " Fresh seals fried in butter."
L. No local title. Contributed by Mrs. Hilary G. Richardson, Clarksburg, Harrison County, December 7, 1917, as sung by a colored servant forty years previous. One stanza, in which the hero is called "my little rambling son."
WHAT DID YOU HAVE FOR YOUR SUPPER
Source Seeger, American Folk Songs for Children (1948) p.140
Performer
Place collected USA : N. Carolina
JOHN RANDOLPH
Source Folktrax 908-60 ('Songs of the Southern Appalachians 2')
Performer Allen, Mrs. Oscar
Place collected USA : Virginia : Lynchburg
Collector Karpeles, Maud
LORD RANDAL
Source Cox, Folk-Songs of the South pp.23-28 (version i)
Performer Staats, Abraham
Place collected USA : West Virginia : Jackson County
Collector
--------------
MY OWN DARLING BOY
Source Grover, Heritage of Songs pp.199-200
Performer Grover, Mrs. Carrie
Place collected USA : Maine
BILLY RANDALL
Source WPA Collection, Univ. of Virginia, Charlotteville, No.835 (version h)
Performer Grainger, Prof. J.W.
Place collected USA : Virginia : Farmville
Collector Hale, Laura Virginia?
JOHNNY ELLIS MY SON
Source WPA Collection, Univ. of Virginia, Charlotteville, No.835 (version i)
Performer Yowell, Mrs. Judy
Place collected USA : Virginia : Culpeper
Collector Jeffries, Margaret
Source Helen Creighton collection (Nova Scotia Archives) AR 5038 / AC 2178 & 2219 / 105
Performer Gallagher, Mrs. Edward
Place collected Canada : Nova Scotia : Chebucto Head
Collector Creighton, Helen
Roud number 10 | Roud number search
LORD RANDALL
Source WPA Collection, Univ. of Virginia, Charlotteville, No.835 (version a)
Performer Edwards, Grace
Place collected USA : Maryland : Baltimore
Collector Smith, Mary E.W.
Roud number 10 | Roud number search
LORD RANDALL
Source WPA Collection, Univ. of Virginia, Charlotteville, No.835 (version c)
Performer Kilgore, Lenore C.
Place collected USA : Virginia : Big Laurel
Collector Adams, John Taylor
WILLIE RANSOME
Source WPA Collection, Univ. of Virginia, Charlotteville, No.835 (version l)
Performer Kilgore, Mrs. Edna
Place collected USA : Virginia : Big Laurel
Collector Adams, John Taylor
LORD RANDALL
Source WPA Collection, Univ. of Virginia, Charlotteville, No.835 (version d)
Performer Beverly, Mrs. Donna
Place collected USA : Virginia : Norton
Collector Hamilton, Emory L.
Roud number 10 | Roud number search
MOTHER MAKE MY BED SOON
Source WPA Collection, Univ. of Virginia, Charlotteville, No.835 (version j)
Performer Hamilton, Mrs. Goldie
Place collected USA : Virginia : Esserville
Collector Hamilton, Emory L.
RANDALL MY SON
Source WPA Collection, Univ. of Virginia, Charlotteville, No.835 (version f)
Performer Ison, Mrs. Sarah
Place collected USA : Virginia : Norton
Collector Hamilton, Emory L.
RANDY MY SON
Source WPA Collection, Univ. of Virginia, Charlotteville, No.835 (version g)
Performer Wagoner, Mrs. Alice
Place collected USA : Virginia : Endicott
Collector Sloan, Raymond H.
SWEET HARRY
Source Combs, Folk-Songs of the Southern United States (1967) pp.200-201 item 6(a)
Performer Reaser, Frank
Place collected USA : W. Virginia : Revel
Collector Combs, Josiah H. / Woofter, Carey
WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN OH WILLIE OH WILLIE MY SON
Source WPA Collection, Univ. of Virginia, Charlotteville, No.835 (version e)
Performer Salyers, Mrs. Julia
Place collected USA : Virginia : Indian Creek
Collector Hamilton, Emory L.
WILLIE RANDALLS
Source WPA Collection, Univ. of Virginia, Charlotteville, No.835 (version k)
Performer Hubbard, Joe
Place collected USA : Virginia : Esserville
Collector Hamilton, Emory L.
JOHNNY RANDAL MY SON
Source Library of Congress recording 3635 A1
Performer Feldberg, Celia
Place collected USA : New York
Collector Halpert, Herbert
LORD RANDAL
Source Library of Congress recording 577A
Performer Webb, Mrs. George A.
Place collected USA : Texas : San Angelo
Collector Lomax, John A.
LORD RANDAL
Source Library of Congress recording 3786 B1
Performer Newman, Mrs. J.U.
Place collected USA : N. Carolina : Elon College
Collector Collins, Fletcher
RANDAL MY SON
Source Library of Congress recording 2809 A2
Performer Ison, Mrs. Sarah
Place collected USA : Virginia : Norton
Collector Halpert, Herbert
RANZEL MY SON
Source Library of Congress recording 3668 B
Performer Montonyea, Mort
Place collected USA : New York : Sloatsburg
Collector Halpert, Herbert
JOHNNY RANDALL
Source Mary Elizabeth Barnicle-Tillman Cadle Collection
(Archives of Appalachia, E. Tenn. State Univ.) Disc BC-163
Performer Jackson, Aunt Molly
Place collected USA : Kentucky (New York)
Collector Lomax, Alan
LORD RANDALL
Source West Virginia Folklore 5:2 (Winter 1955) p.22
Performer Glasscock, Mrs. Howard
Place collected USA : W. Virginia : Wetzel County
Collector Musick, Ruth Ann
LORD RANDALL
Source West Virginia Folklore 4:1 (1953) p.11
Performer West, Roy A.
Place collected USA : W. Virginia : Upshur County
Collector
Roud number 10 | Roud number search
LORD RANDAL
Source Haun, Cocke County Ballads & Songs (1937) p.72
Performer Haun, Mrs. Maggie
Place collected USA : Tennessee : Cocke County
Collector
LORD RANDAL
Source Child, Vol.1 pp.158-159 (No.12) (version h)
Performer Healy, Ellen
Place collected USA
Collector Child, F.J.
Roud number 10 | Roud number search
HENRY MY SON
Source Library of Congress AAFS recording 3659 B
Performer Kling, Joseph
Place collected USA : New York
Collector Halpert, Herbert
JOHNNY RANDAL
Source Library of Congress recording 2546 A
Performer Jackson, Aunt Molly
Place collected USA
Collector Lomax, Alan
JOHNNY RANDAL
Source Library of Congress recording 3631 A4 & 5
Performer Feldberg, Celia
Place collected USA : New York
Collector Halpert, Herbert
Roud number 10 | Roud number search
LORD RANDAL
Source Helen Creighton collection (Nova Scotia Archives) AR 5341 / AC 2182 / 1735
Performer Livingstone, Dan
Place collected Canada : Nova Scotia : Halifax
Collector Creighton, Helen
LORD RANDAL
Source Helen Creighton collection (Nova Scotia Archives) AR 5544 / AC 2316 / 2145
Performer Lowe, Bobby
Place collected Canada : Nova Scotia : Moser's River
Collector Creighton, Helen
-------------
MidAmerica Folklore - Volume 13 - Page 19; 1985
In addition to the traditional ballad noted earlier, Windy also sings two verses of "Johnny Randall":
Oh, what do you will to your brother, Johnny Randall, my own son?
What do you will to your brother, my own sweet purty one?
The Woods Colt: A Novel of the Ozark Hills - Page 284; Thames Williamson - 1933
Windy Gifford sings:
What do you will to your sweetheart, Johnny Randall my son?
What do you will to your sweetheart, my own sweet purty one?
A rope for to hang 'er, an' a knife to cut her down!
For I'm tired o' ridin', an' I fain would lie down!
----------------
Honoré mon enfant [the text is from an on-line site and is lacking]
by GABRIEL YACOUB . Trad./Arr. (Gr. L. SIF-3035) GLT. The leader of Malicorne.
Honoré mon enfant
1978 trad | adapt gabriel yacoub
où t'as été hier au soir honoré mon enfant ? [repeat]
[Where are you going, Honore my Child?]
j'ai été voir les filles, maman faisez mon lit
car j'ai grand mal au cœur je veux aller me coucher
mais où sont tes deux chiens honoré mon enfant ?
[Where are your two dogs Honore my child?]
sont morts après souper
[They died after supper]
mais qu'as-tu donc mangé honoré mon enfant ?
[What did you eat Honore mu child?
un p' tit poisson salé
[I ate a small fish]
que laisseras-tu à ton père honoré mon enfant ?
ma terre et ma maison
que laisseras-tu à ta mère honoré mon enfant ?
[What will you leave your mother my child]
mon or et mon argent
[my gold and my silver]
que laisseras-tu à ton frère honoré mon enfant ?
ma selle et mon cheval ma montre et mes souliers
que laisseras-tu à ta soeur honoré mon enfant ?
mon violon, mon archet
que laisseras-tu à ta belle honoré mon enfant ?
[What will you leave your lover, Honore
je lui laisserai la mer pour aller s'y noyer
[I'll leave her the ocean to drown herself in]
elle l'a bien mérité c'est elle qui m'a empoisonné
[For it was her that poisoned me.]
[I'll leave her the ocean
Mid-America Folklore - Volume 30 - Page 51
2002 - Snippet view - More editions
articles, two of the more recent being E. Flatto's Lord Randal, Southern Folklore Quarterly (December, 1970) 34: 331-336, and Graham S. Kash's "The Poisoning in Lord Randal"
In many texts the protagonist is named "Johnny Randolph" or "Jimmy Randolph" (Cox, p
E. Flatto's article on Lord Randal, Southern Folklore Quarterly - Volume 34 - Page 334; Alton Chester Morris - 1970
The deep all-pervasive mood of melancholy underlying "Lord Randal" is unfolded gradually through the slow, measured musical- ity so characteristic of the ballad. ... murder are heinous and reprehensible, none has evoked so
------
Abstracts of Folklore Studies, Volume 3
American Folklore Society, 1965 -
McNeese State College, Louisiana J, XV (1964), 18-22.
Reprint from Abstracts of English Studies, VIII: 6, June 1965. 521. Theodore Toulon Beck, '"Lord Randal' in Louisiana," pp. 18-22. Shortly after 1855 the students in a young ladies' academy operated by the Daughters of the Cross at Mansura
Shortly after 1855 the students in a young ladies' academy operated by the Daughters of the Cross at Mansura, Louisiana, were taught the Scottish popular ballad "Lord Randal" in French. It was practically a duplicate of Variant D recorded by F.J. Child.
------------------------
-----------
Henry My Son
Roud Folksong Index (S383795)
389 of approx 925 results
First Line
Where have you been all day Henry my son
Roud No
10 [Search for 10 in the current indexes]
Other nums
Child 12
Source
FE 4312 ('Folk Songs of Saskatchewan')
Performer
Carr, Grace
Place
Canada : Saskatchewan : near Moose Jaw
Collector
Cass-Beggs, Barbara
Date collected
late 1950s
Format
Sound recording
Src Contents
---------
Lord Randall
Roud Folksong Index (S243532)
450 of approx 925 results
First Line
Oh where have ye been
Source
John Donald Robb Coll. (Center for Southwest Research, Univ New Mexico, Albuquerque) MU7 CD13 (text 377)
Performer
Planche, J. Kearns
Place
USA : New Mexico : Albuquerque
Collector
Robb, John Donald
Date collected
1950
John Randolph / Lord Randal
Maud Karpeles Manuscript Collection (MK/3/181/12)
Title
John Randolph / Lord Randal
First Line
Where have you been a-roving, John Randolph, my son? /
O where have you been a-roving, John Randolph, my son?
Performer
Date collected
Place
Collector
Karpeles, Maud P.
Place
Canada : Ontario : Clinton
Collector
Fowke, Edith
Date collected
1962 (Aug)
Format
Sound recording
Src Contents
Audio
Roud Folksong Index (S216234)
170 of approx 925 results
First Line
Where have you been this morning, my own darling boy
Roud No
10 [Search for 10 in the current indexes]
Other nums
Child 12
Source
Grover, Heritage of Songs pp.199-200
Performer
Grover, Mrs. Carrie
Place
USA : Maine
-------------
https://www.vwml.org/search?q=RN10%20%20&is=1
Cecil Sharp Manuscript Collection (at VWML) (CJS1/11/6)
First Line
What did you eat for your supper
Performer
Bishop, Mrs.
Date collected
1911
Place
USA : Kentucky : Clay County
Collector
Campbell, Olive Dame
Lord Randal
Roud Folksong Index (S153033)
208 of approx 925 results
First Line
Where have you been a-walking
Roud No
10 [Search for 10 in the current indexes]
Other nums
Child 12
Source
Journal of American Folklore 39 (1926) pp.81-82
Performer
Whiting, M.B. / M.D. Mendall
Place
USA : Maine : E. Northport
Collector
Whiting, Bartlett J.
Date collected
1924
Format
Printed : Journal / Serial
Src Contents
Text
Lord Rendle
Roud Folksong Index (S182631)
254 of approx 925 results
First Line
What colour was the fish Rendle my son
Roud No
10 [Search for 10 in the current indexes]
Other nums
Child 12
Source
Cecil Sharp MSS, Folk Tunes p.363
Performer
Wyatt, George
Place
England : Somerset : West Harptree
Collector
Sharp, Cecil J.
Date collected
1904 (26 Aug)
Format
Manuscript collection
Src Contents
Frag. Text; Music