Where have you been all the day, my pretty one?
I've been to my sweetheart, mother,
I've been to my sweetheart, mother; make my bed soon,
For I'm sick to my heart, and I fain would lie down.
What have you been eating of, Rendal, my son?
What have you been eating of, my pretty one?
O eels and eel-broth, mother,
O eels and eel-broth, mother; make my bed soon,
For I'm sick to my heart, and I fain would lie down.
Where did she get them from, Rendal, my son?
Where did she get them from, my pretty one?
From hedges and ditches, mother,
From hedges and ditches, mother; make my bed soon,
For I'm sick to my heart, and I fain would lie down.
What was the color on their skin, Rendal, my son?
What was the color on their skin, my pretty one?
O spickit and sparkit, mother,
O spickit and sparkit, mother; make my bed soon,
For I'm sick to my heart, and I fain would lie down.
What will you leave your father, Rendal, my son?
What will you leave you father, my pretty one?
My land and houses, mother,
My land and houses, mother; make my bed soon,
For I'm sick to my heart, and I fain would lie down.
What will you leave your mother, Rendal, my son?
What will you leave your mother, my pretty one?
My gold and silver, mother,
My gold and silver, mother; make my bed soon,
For I'm sick to my heart, and I fain would lie down.
What will you leave your brother, Rendal, my son?
What will you leave your brother, my pretty one?
My cows and horses, mother,
My cows and horses, mother; make my bed soon,
For I'm sick to my heart, and I fain would lie down.
What will you leave your lover, Rendal, my son?
What will you leave your lover, my pretty one?
A rope to hang her, mother,
A rope to hang her, mother; make my bed soon,
For I'm sick to my heart, and I fain would lie down.