You can hear in this version that it was the template for Dylan's 'A Hard Rain'. It is in the first British folk index as Child Ballad #12. One interpretation is it's about the danger of venturing deep into the wetlands & heart of the greenwood, vast areas in old times around the estuaries if Britain's biggest rivers, where a few were still living as hunter gatherers as late as 1880, like around Eely in East Anglia where they violently protested against the draining of some of the last substantial fens.
“Where have ye been all the day, my own dear darling boy? Where have ye been all the day, my own dear comfort and joy?” “I have been to my stepmother, make my bed mummy do, Make my bed mummy do.” “What did she give you for your supper, …?” “I got fish and I got broth, …” “Where did she get the fish that she give you?” “Hedges sought and ditches caught.” “What did you do with your fishbones?” “I gave them to my greyhound.” “Tell me what did your greyhound do?” “There he swelled and there he died.” “I fear that she does you deadly wrong.” “She took me in but she did me slay.” “What will you leave to your mother?” “I'll leave you me house and land.” “What will you leave your stepmother, my own dear darling boy? What will you leave your stepmother, my own dear comfort and joy?” “Bind her with rope and there let her hang with the halter that hangs on the tree For poisoning of me.”
UK eels are listed as Critically Endangered on the global IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Their breeding is still not understood because they cross the Atlantic to the Sargasso Sea to do it, so they can't be farmed. Everyone should leave them the hell alone, & let rewilded wetlands return. In Gaelic 'An Tiarna Randall' is also known as 'Eel Song'.
Wow I think I found something interesting there was a short story written in the 60s called Lord Randy my son by Joe Hensley collected in dangerous visions by Harlan Ellison. It’s a really good story about a boy who has a gift of power and how he uses it To help those that show him love, and hurt those that cause him pain. It seems really clear to me that the story was partially inspired by this song, less of course I have the timeline wrong. But if this was a folk tune with different lyrics but the same general theme then the author could’ve been inspired by the pre-existing folk tune and not this gentleman‘s version. Either way the story and this song would make a great movie. They didn’t call the book dangerous visions for nothing after all. It was meant to actually shock people at the time
@@sandramorey2529 totally true Sandra, Woody actually talked about this process once. Learn lots of tunes and then make up some. Folk music (and maybe all music) is a cumulative process. As we advance with New technique and new sound sources, we can reimagine what we already know, just like cooking a traditional recipe.
He did. He became a friend of Martin's, and still is, (Martin even defended him after he went electric), meeting him on his first trip to the UK in 1963 where he learnt this and other British and Irish ballads from him, including Scarborough Fair. This is all on record. Therefore the question and answer format is the same but for Dylan to then come up with the surreal imagery in his lyrics is far more than just copying an idea and undoubtedly makes for a totally new melody which Dylan's critics conveniently forget (this is not addressed to the poster, who made a reasonable statement, rather those who fudge the issue.) Also, Dylan's arrangements of the tune are even more stark and basic; sometimes the most basic approach is the most effective, and then to add the harmonica was what Dylan was all about really. Guthrie used the harmonica sparingly while Dylan wasn't afraid to be more liberal.
He has many different tunings and is among the most accomplished guitarists alive today. There are many, many variants of Lord Randall all over the English speaking world.
