I've had a chance to listen to Mary Ward Kilconnell's version a bit more and I've got a few more changes, shown in <..> below. Also some possible alternatives, shown in {..} below. (Perhaps my worst? mishearing was devil wife for beloved wife!) Mick
LORD RANDAL 1. "O son, dear son, O come tell it unto me, O where were you, this lang summer's evening?" "I went fishin an' fowlin'; <THIS LONG SUMMER'S EVENING> O MAMAW O PARDON ME" {O MAMAW=O MAM O?} 2. What had you for breakfast, my dear and my <JOY> O What had you for breakfast, my darling fine BOY O FRESH EELS AND slow poison, mama, make my bed soon, FRESH EELS AND slow poison, and I MEANT to lie down." 3. "O son, dear son, O come tell it unto me, O What will you do with yer two little children? <I'LL> give ONE to my daddy and the other to my mammy, O TO KEEP THEM COMPANY, O mamaw pardon me. 4."O son, dear son, O come tell <IT> unto me, What will ye do with your house and land?" "I will leave it THERE to the BIRDS IN THE AIR {IN=ON?} And there to mourn for me, SO MAMAW? pardon me. 5. "O son, dear son, O come tell IT UNTO ME What will you do with yer DEAR <BELOVED> WIFE I'LL GIVE TO HER THE BAG AND THE BOTTLE O TO HUNT THE COUNTERIE, O TO HUNT THE COUNTERIE {HUNT=HAUNT?} THEN MAMAW PARDON ME 6. O son, dear son, O come tell it unto me What will you do with your two gray hounds? I will take their straps ALL off their neck, AND FOR ME THEY'LL RACE NO MORE 7. O son, dear son, O come tell it unto me What will you <DO> do with your two RACE horses? I will take THE bridal off their HEAD And FOR ME THEY'LL RACE NO MORE <THEN> MAMAW O PARDON ME Source: Kathleen Ward Kilconnell
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