Lord Lovell- Karickhoff (WV) pre1971 Boette
[From Singa Hypsy Doodle; Boette, 1971. Her notes follow. Stanza 3 of this version ends "I'll return to your fair body, dy, dy," which is taken from Lord Bateman (Young Beichan) and is found in several US version- Boette says this is the only one.
R. Matteson 2015]
LORD LOVELL
This ballad, Child 75, was sung by Mrs. Hazel Karickhoff. Mrs. Karickhoff lived the early part of her life on the top of Gum Mountain, bordering Barbour and Upshur counties. In speaking of the songs she said, "The oldest ones my mother, Mrs. Eva H. Romine learned me and she learned them of her father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Hannah of Peck's Run. I was the only one around who could play or sing to do any good so many gathered in to hear me." The instrument that she played was a harmonium.
This ballad has been printed in many American song books and broadsides. There is a variance in this arrangement in the words Lovell and Nancy Belle, Child using Lord Lovell and Lady Ouncebell- Lord Lavel, Fair Nancybelle and Ladie Nanciebel.
Stanza 3 of this version ends "I'll return to your fair body, dy, dy,' which is not found in any of the other collections. In many ballads cruel ladies die of remorse as do their male counterparts. The music is especially fitted to the words so the ballad should be sung, not read. The text is sad and mournful, the tune lilting and rollicking and with the triple repetition of the last word in the last line, it turns the tear into a smile. The difference between reading it as a poem and singing it as a song is the difference between tragedy and comedy.
Lord Lovell- Upshur County; Collected by Marie Boette
1- Lord Lovell he stood at his castle gate a combing his milk white steed,
When along came Lady Nancy Belle a wishing her lover good speed, speed, speed,
A wishing her lover good speed.
2- "Oh! Where are you going Lord Lovell," she said, "Oh ! Where are you going," said she.
"I'm going my dear Lady Nancy Belle strange countries for to see, see, see,
Strange countries for to see."
3- "Oh! When will you be back," she said, "Oh! When will you be back," said she.
"In a year or two or three at the most I'll return to your fair body, dy, dy,
I'll return to your fair body."
4- He had not been gone but a year and a day strange countries for to see
When languishing thoughts came into his head Lady Nancy Belle he would see, see, see,
Lady Nancy Belle he would see.
5- He rode and he rode upon his white steed till he come to London town
And there he heard St. Varnie's bell and the people all mourning 'round, 'round, 'round.
And the people all mourning 'round.
6- "Is any body dead," Lord Lovell said, "Is any body dead,"
"A Lord's daughter's dead," a lady replied, "and some call her Lady Nancy, cy, cy,
And some call her Lady Nancy."
7- He ordered the grave to be opened forthwith and the shroud to be folded down;
And there he kissed her clay cold lips till the tears come trickling down, down, down,
Till the tears come trickling down.
8 -Lady Nancy she died as it might be today, Lord Lovell he died tomorrow
And out of her bosom there grew a red rose and out of Lord Lovell's a brier, er, er,
And out of Lord Lovell's a brier.
9-They grew and they grew till they reached the church top and then they couldn't grow any higher
And there they entwined in a true lover's knot, which all true lovers admire, er, er,
Which all true lovers admire.