This is a version of Lord Randal (Child 12, Roud 10) that was sent to Baring-Gould by a Miss Adams of Plymouth who had learned it in 1835 from her nurse. Baring-Gould also collected this from John Woodrich in 1896. On another visit to John Woodrich in 1905 he was joined by Cecil Sharp who noted the tune to the song again and came up with a rather different result. Whether Woodrich had changed his tune or Baring-Gould didn’t note it ‘correctly’ in the first place, we preferred the earlier version.
Where hast thou been today, Jacky my son?
Where hast thou been today, my honey man?
O, I’ve been a courting mother, make my bed soon
For I am sick unto the heart, fain would lie down.
Where shall I make it to, Jacky my son?
Where shall I make it to, My honey man?
O, in the churchyard mother, make my bed soon
For I am sick unto the heart, fain would lie down.
What wilt thou leave thy mother, Jacky my son?
What wilt thou leave thy mother, my honey man?
O, I will leave her my money mother, make my bed soon
For I am sick unto the heart, fain would lie down.
What wilt thou leave thy father, Jacky my son?
What wilt thou leave thy father, my honey man?
O, I will leave him my estate, mother, make my bed soon
For I am sick unto the heart, fain would lie down.
What wilt thou leave thy sweetheart, Jacky my son?
What wilt thou leave thy sweetheart, my honey man?
A rope for to hang her, mother, make my bed soon
For I am sick unto the heart, fain would lie down.