Lord Randall (Child 12)

Listening time: (6 minutes)

AUDIO RECORDING

VERSE 1
O, where have you been, Lord Randall, my son
O, where have you been, my handsome young man
I've been to th wildwoods, Mother make my bed soon
For I'm weary with hunting an' I fain would lie down

VERSE 2
Where gat ye your dinner, Lord Randall, my son
Where gat ye your dinner, my handsome young man
I did eat with my true love, Mother make my bed soon
For I'm weary with hunting an' I fain would lie down

VERSE 3
What get ye to your dinner, Lord Randall, my son
What get ye to your dinner, my handsome young man
A yella pieded snake, Mother fix my bed soon
For I'm weary with hunting an' I fain would lie down

VERSE 4
What became of your bloodhounds, Lord Randall, my son
What became of your bloodhounds, my handsome young man
O, they swelled an' they died, Mother make my bed soon
For I'm weary with hunting an' I fain would lie down

VERSE 5
O, I fear you are poisened, Lord Randall, my son
O, I fear you are poisened, my handsome young man
O, yes I am poisened, Mother make my bed soon
For I'm sick at my heart an' I fain would lie down

AUDIO RECORDING

VERSE 1
Where have you been ridin', Sweet Angia, my son
Where have you been ridin', my own darlin' one
I've been to my sweetheart
Mother, make my bed soon
For I'm sick to my heart
And I want to lay down

VERSE 2
What had ya for supper, Sweet Angia, my son
What had ya for supper, my own darlin' one
Fried ells, fried in butter
Mother, make my bed soon
For I'm sick to my heart
And I want to lay down

VERSE 3
What leave ya to your Mother, Sweet Angia, my son
What leave ya to your Mother, my own darling one
Th hogs an' th pieces
Mother make my bed soon
For I'm sick to my heart
An' I want to lay down

VERSE 4
What leave ya to your Brothers, Sweet Angia, my son
What leave ya to your Brothers, my own darling one
Th farm and th land
Mother make my bed soon
For I'm sick to my heart
An' I want t' lay down

VERSE 5
What leave ya to your Sisters, Sweet Angia, my son
What leave ya to your Sisters, my own darling one
Th horse, saddle an' bridle
Mother make my bed soon
For I'm sick to my heart
And I want to lay down

VERSE 6
What leave ya to your sweetheart, Sweet Angia, my son
What leave ya to your sweetheart, my own darling one
Hell-fire an' damnation
Mother make my bed soon
For I'm sick to my heart
And I want to lay down

Questions. Make sure you can answer these questions about what you just read:

• what poison food was the man given by his lover?
• what are the possessions that the man gives away as he is dying?
• what does he wish for his treacherous lover?

Source: From The Max Hunter Folksong Archive (weblink) and Lesley Nelson's Child Ballad website (weblink). See also Francis James Child, The English and Scottish Popular Ballads (1882-1898). Weblink.