Lord Randal 
‘Where have you been, Lord Randal, my son?
And where have you been, my handsome young man? ‘
‘I’ve ha’ by the green trees; mum, mak my bed soon,
Because I’m tired of hunting, and fainting wad lies.
‘A whale met you there, Lord Randal, my son?
A whale met you there, my handsome young man? ‘
‘OI met my real love; mum, mak my bed soon,
Because I’m tired of hunting, and fainting wad lies. ‘
‘And what did she give you, Lord Randal, my son?
And what did she give you, my handsome young man? ‘
‘Pan-fried eel; mum, mak my bed soon,
Because I’m tired of hunting, and fainting wad lies. ‘
‘And wha gat your leavins, Lord Randal, my son?
And wha gat your leavins, my handsome young man? ‘
‘My hawks and hounds; mum, mak my bed soon,
Because I’m tired of hunting, and fainting wad lies. ‘
‘And what became of them, Lord Randal, my son?
And what became of them, my handsome young man? ‘
‘They stretch their legs out dead; mum, mak my bed soon,
For I am tired of hunting, and fainting wad lies. ‘
‘Oh I’m afraid you are intoxicated, Lord Randal, my son!
I’m afraid you’re poisoned, my handsome young man! ‘
‘Oh yes, I’m intoxicated; mum, mak my bed soon,
Because I’m basically sick, and I’m fainting. ”
‘What do you leave to your mother, Lord Randal, my son?
What do you leave to your mother, my handsome young man? ‘
‘Four hundred and twenty milkmen; mum, mak my bed soon,
Because I’m basically sick, and I’m fainting wad to lie down. ‘
‘What do you leave to your sister, Lord Randal, my son?
What do you leave to your sister, my handsome young man? ‘
‘My gold and my silver; mum, mak my bed soon,
Because I’m basically sick, and I faint wad lie
‘What do you leave to your brother, Lord Randal, my son?
What do you leave to your brother, my handsome young man? ‘
‘My house and lands; mum, mak my bed soon,
Because I’m basically sick, and I’m fainting wad lying down. ‘
‘What do you leave to your true love, Lord Randal, my son?
What do you leave to your true love, my handsome young man? ‘
‘I leave her hell and fire; mum, mak my bed soon,
Because I’m basically sick, and I’m fainting wad to lie down. ‘
– Traditional, Anonymous
One of the interesting types of poetry that exists in the large body of English literature is the ballad; more specifically, the old Scottish or English ballad. It belongs to the magnificent surviving repository of oral literature (folk poems), some of which probably date back to the Middle Ages. Various factors in the political context of these poems provide fascinating studies.