A version of Lord Randall collected in 1911 by Cecil Sharp on his only collecting trip to Cambridgeshire. The source singer was John Dorling of Lynn Road, Ely - a farm worker with five children who must have enjoyed listening to him singing this. It was the words “What did you have for supper - Stewed eels, bread and butter” that drew me to this version of the song. Ely in times past was famous for its eels (Ely means eel island). John Riley's sweetheart looked in some very strange places for eels, but she was looking for something much more malign. I do feel very sorry for poor young John Riley. I think his sweetheart could have been kinder by telling him straight that she was fed up with him, rather than inflicting on him such a cruel end. A few verses from other versions have crept in almost without my noticing to make it even more horrifying - especially to animal-lovers. My own children used to like those verses the best.
~ Mary Humphreys
credits
from A Baker's Dozen,
released June 6, 2012
Mary Humphreys: vocal
Anahata: one row melodeon in D
Because I couldn't decide what my favourite track was. It's a beautiful album and every track could be my favourite. However, I am a soppy git so I chose stowaway. Thank you Jon and keep up the good work. amediamonkey