My favorite version of the weird English ballad where some poor sod has been poisoned... sometimes by a girlfriend, sometimes by a stepmother... sometimes by having been fed fish and sometimes spotted eels. The creepiest part is the dog swelling up and dying, which doesn't bode well for poor Lord Randall, who is already crying for his mother to make up his bed.
Lord Randall
"Where have ye been all the day, my own dear darling boy?
Where have ye been all the day, my own dear comfort and joy?"
"I have been to my stepmother. Mummy, make my bed, do.
Make my bed, Mummy, do."
"What did she give you for your supper, my own dear darling boy?
What did she give you for your supper, my own dear comfort and joy?"
"I got fish and I got broth. Oh, make my bed, Mummy, do.
Make my bed, Mummy, do."
"Where did she get the fish that she give you, my own dear darling boy?
Where did she get the fish that she give you, my own dear comfort and joy?"
"Hedges sought and ditches caught. Oh, make my bed, Mummy, do.
Make my bed, Mummy, do."
"What did you do with your fishbones, my own dear darling boy?
What did you do with your fishbones, my own dear comfort and joy?"
"I gave them to my greyhound. Oh, make my bed, Mummy, do.
Make my bed, Mummy, do."
"Tell me, what did your greyhound do, my own dear darling boy?
Tell me, what did your greyhound do, my own dear comfort and joy?"
"There he swelled and there he died. Oh, make my bed, Mummy, do.
Make my bed, Mummy, do."
"I fear that she's done you deadly wrong, my own dear darling boy!
I fear that she's done you deadly wrong, my own dear comfort and joy."
"She took me in, but she did me slay. Oh, make my bed, Mummy, do.
Make my bed, Mummy, do."
"What will you leave to your mother, my own dear darling boy?
What will you leave to your mother, my own dear comfort and joy?"
"I'll leave you my house and land. Oh, make my bed, Mummy, do.
Make my bed, Mummy, do."
"What will you leave your stepmother, my own dear darling boy?
What will you leave your stepmother, my own dear comfort and joy?"
"Bind her with rope and there let her hang, with the halter that hangs on the tree,
For the poisoning of me."
