8A. Lord Lovell- Morgan/Hays (WV) 1924 (Child 75)
[From: Traditional Ballads & Folk Songs Mainly from West Virginia- John Harrington Cox- 1939 Edited by George Herzog and Herbert Halpert 1939 and George Boswell, 1964. The date is earlier by three generation making it circa 1830s. According to a 1860 Census record, Zacquill Morgan was born 1832 and married Elizabeth, she is apparently the source of this ballad, her family was from Pennsylvania.
R. Matteson 2014]
8A - LORD LOVEL
(Lord LoveL, Child, No. 75)
Communicated by Miss Lucile V. Hays , Gilner County, Novembor 22, 1916. Obtained from her mother, who learned it from her mother, and she, from her mother, Mrs. Zackwell Morgan, a woman of Welsh descent. Tune supplied by Miss Frances Sanders, who noted it from the singing of Miss Emma Hewitt, Morgantown, June, 1924.
1. Lord Lovell stood at his castle gate,
Conbing his milk-white steed;
Lady Nancy Bell came riding by,
Wishing her lover good speed,
Wishing her lover good speed.
2. "Where are you golng, Lord Lovell?" she said,
"Where are you going?" said she.
"I am going, Lady Nancy Bell,
Strange countries for to see,
Strange countries for to see."
When will you be back, Lord Lovell?" she said,
"When will you be back?" said she.
"I'll be back a year or two,
I'll return to my Lady Nancy,
I'll return to my Lady Nancy."
He hadn't been gone but a year and a day
Strange countries for to see,
Till a languishing thought came into his mind
Lady Nancy Bell he must see
Lady Nancy Bell he must see.
He rode and he rode all on his white steed
Till be came to London town;
And there he heard St. Vincent's bell,
And the people were mourning around,
And the people were mourning around.
Is any one dead?" Lord Lovell he said
Is any one dead?" said he.
"Lord's daughter is dead," the people all said,
"And some call her Lady Nancy,
And some call her Lady Nancy ."
He ordered the coffin opened straightway,
And the shroud to be folded down,
And there he kissed the clay cold lips,
And the tears came trickling down,
And the tears came trickling down.
Nancy she died as it might be today,
Lord Lovell ho died tomorrow;
Nancy she died of pure, pure love
Lord Lovell he died of sorrow,
Lord Lovell he died of sorrow.
9. Lady Nancy was buried in the high church yard,
Lord Lovell was buried side by her;
And out of one breast there grew a red rose,
And out of tho other's a briar,
And out of the other's a briar.
10 They grow and they grow to the high church top,
Till they could grow no higher,
And there they entwined in a true lover's knot,
For all true lovers to admire,
For all true lovers to admire.