Young Roland- Margaret Holms (Aber) 1953 Henderson
[From: Collection - School of Scottish Studies; Original Tape ID - SA1953.187. Their notes follow.
R. Matteson 2018]
Summary- Young Roland returns home seeking his bed as he feels unwell. His mother asks what he has eaten and he says fish. His mother asks what the fish were like. He says black-backed and grey-bellied, and they both conclude he has been poisoned. He will leave to his sister his stables and horses, to his mother his lands and money, and to his sweetheart a rope and a halter to hang her for poisoning.
Item Notes - Text transcribed in School of Scottish Studies. 8 verses. Tune is 'Vilikins'.
Young Roland- sung by Margaret Holms of Aberdeen in 1953 recorded by Hamish Henderson
1. "O where have you been young Roland my son,
O where have you been my darlin' young man?"
O I've been a-huntin', mither mak my bed soon
For I'm weary, weary, wandrin' an' I fain wid lie doon."
"Have you had any supper young Roland my son,
Have you had any supper my darlin' young man?"
O yes I've had supper, mother mak my bed soon
For I'm weary, weary, wandrin' an' I fain wid lie doon."
"What had ye for supper young Roland my son,
What had ye for supper my darlin' young man?"
I had fish for supper, mither mak my bed soon
For I'm weary, weary, wandrin' an' I fain wid lie doon."
"What had ye for supper young Roland my son,
What had ye for supper my darlin' young man?"
I had fish for supper, mither mak my bed soon
For I'm weary, weary, wandrin' an' I fain wid lie doon."
"What kind were those fishes, young Roland my son,
What kind were those fishes my darlin' young man?"
Black backs and gray bellies, mother mak my bed soon
For I'm weary, weary, wandrin' an' I fain wid lie doon."
"I'm sure you've been poisoned, young Roland my son,
I'm sure you've been poisoned my darlin' young man?"
"Oh yes I've been poisoned, mother mak my bed soon
For I'm weary, weary, wandrin' an' I fain wid lie doon."
"What'd ya leave to your sister, young Roland my son,
What'd ya leave to your sister my darlin' young man?"
My stable and my horse, mither mak my bed soon
For I'm weary, weary, wandrin' an' I fain wid lie doon."
"What'd you[1] leave to your mither, young Roland my son,
What'd ya leave to your mither my darlin' young man?"
My life and my money, mother mak my bed soon
For I'm weary, weary, wandrin' an' I fain wid lie doon."
"What'd you leave to your sweetheart, young Roland my son,
What'd you leave to your sweetheart, my darlin' young man?"
"A rope and a halter to hang in yon tree,
It's a' that she's worth for the poisonin' o' me."
1. sounds abbreviated like "What to leave"