“O where have ye been, Lord Randal, my son?
O where have ye been, my handsome young man?”
“I have been to the wild wood; mother, make my bed soon,
For I’m weary with hunting, and gain wald lie down”

“Where gat ye your dinner, Lord Randal, my son?
Where gat ye your dinner, my handsome young man?”
“I din’d 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 Randal 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 wear wi’ hunting, and fain wald lie down”

“What become of your bloodhounds, Lord Randal, my son?
What becomes 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 Randal, 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”

Anonymous

Ye – you

Wild wood – an area of land covered with trees growing wild

Hunting – A sport of kings and noblemen in the past. They went to the woods on horse back with blood hounds and killed wild animals and birds.

Fain wald lie down – willingly would (I) lie down; a strong desire to sleep.

True-love – loved one

Eels – a kind of fish