The Brown Girl- Kisner (Ark.) 1960 Hunter
[ From: Max Hunter Folk Song Collection. Edited for spelling, puctuation,
R. Matteson 2012]
The Brown Girl- As sung by Mrs. Norma Kisner, Springdale, Arkansas on November 25, 1960
Listen: http://maxhunter.missouristate.edu/songinformation.aspx?ID=0565
VERSE 1
Come Father, come Mother, come riddle me this
Come riddle for both as one
O, shall I go an' marry fair Ellender
Or bring the brown girl home
VERSE 2
Th brown girl, she has house an' land
Fair Ellender, she has none
Then if I should lend you my say-so
I would say, bring the brown girl home
VERSE 3
Lord Thomas, he rode t' fair Ellender's home
He tingled at the latch an' bell
There was none quite so willing as fair Ellen 'erself
To arise an' let him in
VERSE 4
Lord Thomas, says she, what is the news
Th news, the news, to me
I have come to ask you to my wedding
It is very bad news, to thee
VERSE 5
A wedding, a wedding, a wedding, said she
That wedding can never be
I thought myself were t' be the bride
An' you the bridegroom for me
I thought myself were t' be the bride
An' you the bridegroom for me
VERSE 6
Come Father, come Mother, come riddle me this
Come riddle for both as one
O, shall I go t' Lord Thomas's wedding
Or must I stay a home
VERSE 7
Your foes are ten hundred
Your friends, ten thousand
Your greatest foes'll be there
Then if I should lend you my say-so
I would rather you would stay at home
VERSE 8
My foes are ten hundred
My friends, ten thousand
An' to Lord Thomas's wedding I'll go
My foes are ten hundred
My friends, ten thousand
An' to Lord Thomas's wedding I'll go
VERSE 9
She dressed her maid in scarlet red
She dressed herself in green
An' every town that she rode through
They took her to be some queen
Every town that she rode through
They took her to be some queen
VERSE 10
She rode within a half a mile of the town
She halted, she heard the bridle bell ring
She rode within a quarter mile of the town
She halted, she heard the wedding bell ring
An' then she rode t' Lord Thomas's house
She tingled at the latch an' bell
There was none quite so willing as Lord Thomas, himself
To arise an' let her in
VERSE 11
He took her by the lily white hand
Her led her through the hall
He sit her down in a golden chair
At the head of the company all
VERSE 12
Lord Thomas says she, is this your bride
You have brought me here for t' see
Or is it only a waiting maid
You have brought for to wait upon me
VERSE 13
But if she be your bride
I think she looks wonderfully brown
When once, you could wed as fair a maid
As ever the sun did shine on
When once, you could'a wed as fair a maid
As ever the sun did shine on
VERSE 14
The brown girl had a pen knife in her hand
It was both sharp an' keen
Between the long ribs and the short
She pierced fair Ellender's heart
VERSE 15
Fair Ellender, what t'is the matter, said he
I think you look wonderfully pale
When one should a bare as good a color
As ever a rose did in bloom
VERSE 16
Lord Thomas, says she, O, are you blind
Or can't you very well see
Th brown girl, with a knife in her hand
Which is both sharp an' keen
An' between my long ribs an' my short
I'm sure she pierced my heart
An' I think I feel my own hearts blood
A trinkling down from me
VERSE 17
Lord Thomas, he sit with a sword by his side
It was both sharp an' keen
He chopped the brown girl's head off of her shoulders
An' he threw it against the wall
VERSE 18
Saying, friends go dig my grave
Go dig it both long and wide
An' likewise dig it deep
An' bury fair Ellender in my arms
An' the brown girl at my feet
An' bury fair Ellender in my arms
An' the brown girl at my feet
VERSE 19
He put the bottom of the sword to the floor
Th point unto his breast
Saying, here is the end of three true lovers
Lord, send their souls to rest
Saying, here is the end of three true lovers
Lord, send their souls to rest