Lord Randall - anderson.k12.ky.us



Lord Randall

Anonymous

“Oh where ha’e ye been, Lord Randall my son?

O where ha’e ye been, my handsome young man?”

“I ha’e been to the wild wood: mother, make my bed soon,

For I’m weary wi’ hunting, and fain wald lie down.”

“Where gat ye your dinner, Lord Randall my son?

Where gat ye your dinner, my handsome young man?”

“I dined wi’ my true love; mother, make my bed soon,

For I’m weary wi’ hunting, and fain wald lie down.”

“What gat ye to your dinner, Lord Randall my son?

What gat ye to your dinner, my handsome young man?”

“I gat eels boiled in broo: mother, make my bed soon,

For I’m weary wi’ hunting, and fain wald lie down.”

“What became of your bloodhounds, Lord Randall my son?

What became of your bloodhounds, my handsome young man?”

“O they swelled and they died: mother, make my bed soon,

for I’m weary wi’ hunting, and fain wald lie down.”

“O I fear ye are poisoned, Lord Randall my son!

O I fear ye are poisoned, my handsome young man!”

“O yes, I am poisoned: mother, make my bed soon,

For I’m sick at the heart, and I fain wald lie down.”

Get Up and Bar the Door

Anonymous

It fell about the Martinmas time,

And a gay time it was then,

When our goodwife got puddings to make,

And she ’s boild them in the pan.

The wind sae cauld blew south and north,

And blew into the floor;

Quoth our goodman to our goodwife,

“Gae out and bar the door.”

“My hand is in my hussyfskap,

Goodman, as ye may see;

An it shoud nae be barrd this hundred year,

It ’s no be barrd for me.”

They made a paction tween them twa,

They made it firm and sure,

That the first word whaeer shoud speak,

Shoud rise and bar the door.

Then by there came two gentlemen,

At twelve o clock at night,

And they could neither see house nor hall,

Nor coal nor candle-light.

“Now whether is this a rich man’s house,

Or whether is it a poor?”

But neer a word wad ane o them speak,

For barring of the door.

And first they ate the white puddings,

And then they ate the black;

Tho muckle thought the goodwife to hersel,

Yet neer a word she spake.

Then said the one unto the other,

“Here, man, tak ye my knife;

Do ye tak aff the auld man’s beard,

And I ’ll kiss the goodwife.”

“But there ’s nae water in the house,

And what shall we do than?”

What ails thee at the pudding-broo,

That boils into the pan?”

O up then started our goodman,

An angry man was he:

“Will ye kiss my wife before my een,

And scad me wi pudding-bree?”

Then up and started our goodwife,

Gied three skips on the floor:

“Goodman, you’ve spoken the foremost word,

Get up and bar the door.”

Author Notes

This tale occurs in many versions but almost all (like this one) involve some Scots dialect words. Its origins would appear to be circa 17th Century

Notes

Martinmas -- The Mass for Saint Martin 11th November

sae cauld -- so cold

hussyfscap -- lierally house wife's cap but a modern term would be oven gloves? The whole phrase "My hand is in my hussyfskap" indicates that she is busy with her chores.

"it's no" -- it will not 

paction -- pact or agreement

ane -- one

two -- two

neer a wad -- never a word

muckle -- much, many or mighty

white pudding -- Oatmeal pudding popular in Scotland

black (pudding) -- blood pudding

tak aff -- take off

pudding-broo -- the pudding broth

pudding bree -- pudding broth

before my een -- in front of my eyes

scad me -- scald me

Gied—gave

Edward, Edward

MODERN TRANSLATION (original below)

'Why does your sword so drip with blood, 

Edward, Edward?

Why does your sword so drip with blood?

And why so sad are ye, O?'

'O, I have killed my hawk so good,

Mother, mother:

O I have killed my hawk so good:

And I had no more but he, O.'

'Your hawk's blood was never so red,

Edward, Edward:

Your hawk’s blood was never so red,

My dear son I tell thee, O.'

'O, I have killed my red-roan steed,

Mother, mother:

O, I have killed my red-roan steed,

That once was so fair and free, O.'

'Your steed was old, and we have got more,

Edward, Edward:

Your steed was old, and we have got more,

Some other evil ye fear, O.'

'O, I have killed my father dear,

Mother, mother:

O, I have killed my father dear,

Alas! and woe is me, O!'

'And what penance will ye suffer for that, 

Edward, Edward?

And what penance will ye suffer for that?

My dear son, now tell me, O.'

'I'll set my feet in yonder boat,

Mother, mother:

I’ll set my feet in yonder boat,

And I’ll fare over the sea, O.'

'And what will ye do with your towers and your halls,

Edward, Edward?

And what will ye do with your towers and your halls,

That were sae fair to see, O?'

'I’ll let them stand till they down fall,

Mother, mother:

I’ll let them stand till they down fall,

For here never more may I be, O.'

'And what will ye leave to your children and your wife,

Edward, Edward?

And what will ye leave to your children and your wife

When ye go over the sea, O?'

'The world is large, let them beg through life,

Mother, mother:

The world is large, let them beg throw life,

For them never more will I see, O.'

'And what will ye leave to your own mother dear,

Edward, Edward?

And what will ye leave to your own mother dear?

My dear son, now tell me, O.'

'The curse of hell from me shall you bear,

Mother, mother:

The curse of hell from me shall you bear,

Such counsels you gave to me, O.'

After-Reading Discussion Questions

“Lord Randall” and “Get Up and Bar the Door”

1. What happens to Lord Randall?

2. In “Get Up and Bar the Door,” what do the husband and wife argue about? What pact do they make?

3. What is the emotional effect of the refrain’s variation in the 5th stanza of “Lord Randall”?

4. “Lord Randall” provides a good example of incremental repetition – the repetition of lines with a new element introduced each time to advance the story until the climax is reached. At what point in this ballad did you discover what is wrong with Lord Randall? How does the incremental repetition increase your suspense?

5. Typical of ballads, “Lord Randall” omits details and ends with only half the story told. Do you think the young man’s lover has poisoned him? Explain why or why not. What other questions regarding the plot are left unanswered?

6. What prominent parts do puddings or sausages play in the plot of “Get Up and Bar the Door”?

7. How is the possibility of violence combined with ironic humor in “Get Up and Bar the Door”?

8. As you read “Get Up and Bar the Door,” did you find yourself siding with the husband, the wife, or neither? Explain your views on this.

9. People often criticize today’s media for glorifying violence. Do you think these ballads also glorify violence? Is the issue the same? Explain your responses.

“Edward, Edward”

1. What questions are unanswered in “Edward, Edward”? Cite details from the ballad to support your answer.

2. Like many ballads, “Edward, Edward” builds up suspense with incremental repetition – the repetition of lines with a new element introduced each time to advance the story until the climax is reached. At what point does the ballad reach a climax?

3. What could be the implications of Edward’s last response to his mother in the final stanza of the ballad?

4. Using details from the selection, respond to the following: Why would ballads like “Edward, Edward” have been recited or sung in alehouses and at firesides? What does the ballad reveal about popular attitudes?

5. Imagine a modern version of the events recounted in this ballad. How might they become a subject for today’s tabloids and other social media? Explain.

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