Lord Rendal

By Anonymous

17th Century


Child Ballad 12

Where have you been all the day,
Rendal, my son?
Where have you been all the day,
My pretty one?
I've been to my sweetheart, mother
I've been to my sweetheart, mother

Chorus:
Make my bed soon
For I'm sick to my heart
And I fain would lie down.
What have you been eating,
Rendal, my son?
What have you been eating,
My pretty one?
O eels and eel broth mother,
O eels and eel broth mother,

Chorus

Where did she get them from,
Rendal, my son?
Where did she get them from,
My pretty one?
From hedges and ditches, mother,
From hedges and ditches, mother.

Chorus

What was the colour on their skin,
Rendal, my son?
What was the colour on their skin,
My pretty one?
O spickit and sparkit, mother,
O spickit and sparkit, mother

Chorus

What will you leave your father,
Rendal my son?
What will you leave your father,
My pretty one?
My land and houses, mother,
My land and houses, mother

Chorus

What will you leave your mother,
Rendal my son?
What will you leave your mother,
My pretty one?
My gold and silver mother,
My gold and silver, mother

Chorus

What will you leave your brother,
Rendal my son?
What will you leave your brother,
My pretty one?
My cows and horses, mother
My cows and horses, mother

Chorus

What will you leave your lover,
Rendal my son?
What will you leave your lover,
My pretty one?
A rope to hang her, mother
A rope to hang her, mother
Make my bed soon
For I'm sick to my heart
And I fain would lie down.

DayPoems Poem No. 2557
<a href="http://www.daypoems.net/poems/2557.html">Lord Rendal by Anonymous</a>

The DayPoems Poetry Collection, www.daypoems.net
Timothy Bovee, editor

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