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"Lord Randall" is a traditional ballad that includes dialogue. It is catalogued as Child Ballad 12, and is generally viewed as a British ballad, though versions and derivations of it exist across the continent of Europe. The different versions follow the same general lines, the primary character (in this case Randall, but varying by location) is poisoned, usually by his sweetheart.
Lord Randall has more recently inspired several other similarly themed songs, notably "Henry, My Son". Bob Dylan borrowed its structure for "A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall".
Full text
The following is one common version of the ballad, Version A from Child's collection:
- "O where ha you been, Lord Randal, my son?
- And where ha you been, my handsome young man?"
- "I ha been at the greenwood; mother, mak my bed soon,
- For I'm wearied wi hunting, and fain wad lie down."
- "An wha met ye there, Lord Randal, my son?
- And wha met ye there, my handsome young man?"
- "O I met wi my true-love; mother, mak my bed soon,
- For I'm wearied wi huntin, and fain wad lie down."
- "And what did she give you, Lord Randal, My son?
- And wha did she give you, my handsome young man?"
- "Eels fried in a pan; mother, mak my bed soon,
- For I'm wearied wi huntin, and fein wad lie down."
- "And what gat your leavins, Lord Randal my son?
- And wha gat your leavins, my handsome young man?"
- "My hawks and my hounds; mother, mak my bed soon,
- For I'm wearied wi huntin, and fein wad lie down."
- "And what becam of them, Lord Randal, my son?
- And what becam of them, my handsome young man?"
- "They stretched their legs out and died; mother mak my bed soon,
- For I'm wearied wi huntin, and fain wad lie down."
- "O I fear you are poisoned, Lord Randal, my son!
- I fear you are poisoned, my handsome young man!"
- "O yes, I am poisoned; mother, mak my bed soon,
- For I'm sick at the heart, and fain wad lie down."
- "What d'ye leave to your mother, Lord Randal, my son?
- What d'ye leave to your mother, my handsome young man?"
- "Four and twenty milk kye; mother, mak my bed soon,
- For I'm sick at the heart, and I fain wad lie down."
- "What d'ye leave to your sister, Lord Randal, my son?
- What d'ye leave to your sister, my handsome young man?"
- "My gold and my silver; mother mak my bed soon,
- For I'm sick at the heart, an I fain wad lie down."
- "What d'ye leave to your brother, Lord Randal, my son?
- What d'ye leave to your brother, my handsome young man?"
- "My houses and my lands; mother, mak my bed soon,
- For I'm sick at the heart, and I fain wad lie down."
- "What d'ye leave to your true-love, Lord Randal, my son?
- What d'ye leave to your true-love, my handsome young man?"
- "I leave her hell and fire; mother mak my bed soon,
- For I'm sick at the heart, and I fain wad lie down."
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