Just come across a bit of a curiosity here
Jim Carroll

Jimmy Rendal (Child 12)

“Where have you been, Jimmie Rendal, my son,
Where have you been, my own lov-ed one?”
“I’ve been to see pretty Polly—mother, make my bed soon,
For I’m sick to my heart and I can’t but lie down,
Down, derry-down,
Down, derry-down.
For I’m sick to my heart and I can’t but lie down.”


“What had you for breakfast, Jimmie Rendal, my son,
What had you for breakfast, my own lov-ed one?”
I had eels fried in butter—mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm sick to my heart and I can’t but lie down,
Down, derry-down,
Down, derry-down,

For I’m sick to my heart and I can’t but lie down.”
“What color were they, Jimmie Rendal, my son,
What color were they, my own lov-ed one?”
They were green, white and checkered—mother, make my bed soon,
For I’m sick to my heart and I can’t but lie down.
Down, derry-down,
Down, derry-down,
For I’m sick to my heart and I can’t but lie down.”

“What for your mother, Jimmie Rendal, my son,
What for your mother, my own lov-ed one?”
“My gold and my silver-mother, make my bed soon,
For I’m sick to my heart and I can’t but lie down.
Down, derry-down,
Down, derry-down,
For I’m sick to my heart and I can’t but lie down.”

“What for your sister, Jimmie Rendal, my son,
What for your sister, my own lov-ed one?”
“My coach and six horses-mother, make my bed soon,
For I’m sick to my heart and I can’t but lie down.
Down, derry-down,
Down, derry-down,
For I’m sick to my heart and I can’t but lie down.”

“What for your brother, Jimmie Rendal, my son,
What for your brother, my own lov-ed one?”
“My gun-shot and powder—mother, make my bed soon,
For I’m sick to my heart and I can’t but lie down.
Down, derry-down,
Down, derry-down.
For I’m sick to my heart and I can’t but lie down.”

“What for pretty Polly, Jimmie Rendal, my son,
What for pretty Polly, my own lov-ed one?” ‘
“The gates of Hell wide—mother, make my bed soon,
For I’m sick to my heart and I can’t but lie down.
Down, derry-down,
Down, derry-down.
For I’m sick to my heart and I can’t but lie down.”

As sung by Mr. James Shepard, whose songs were learned many years ago in Ireland. Mr. Shepard lived at Baltimore, Vermont.
H. H. F., Collector October 29, 1933