English & Other Versions: 75. Lord Lovel
[The first extant version dated February 1765 entitled, The Ballad of Lady Hounsibelle and Lord Lovel (Percy's title), was enclosed with a letter from Horace Walpole to Thomas Percy. After Percy's papers were acquired at an auction by the British Museum this ballad was discovered in a volume of Walpole's letters and was first published in 1904 in "The Letters of Horace Walpole: Fourth Earl of Oxford" edited by Helen Wrigley Toynbee & Paget Jackson Toynbee, published 1904, Clarendon Press, pp.180-184. Since this was published several years after Child's death it was not included in ESPB.
It's important to note that Walpole learned this ballad 25 years before he wrote this letter to Percy with the enclosed ballad. Therefore the date would be 1740.
The letter and ballad text are found in my collection in English and Other Versions and also attached to the Recordings & info page.
R. Matteson 2013]
Broadside Harding B 26(380)
The above broadside from the mid-1800s is similar in text to the 1846 version published by Dixon.
CONTENTS:
Lady Ouncebell- Parsons (Wye) 1770 Percy; Child A
Lord Lavel- Barr (Lesmahago) 1827 Kinloch; Child B
Lord Travell- Walker (Mt Pleasant) 1873 Child C
Lord Lovel- Kinloch (Roxburghshire) 1827 Child D
Lord Lovel- (Staffordshire) Campbell 1850 Child E
Lord Lovel- (Newcastle-on-Tyne) White 1829 Child F
Lord Revel- Molison (Dunlappie) c.1790s Child G
Lord Lovel- Broadside; Dixon 1846; Child H a.
Lord Lovel- Broadside; Davidson 1853; Child H b.
Fair Helen- Percy c.1770 Robertson; Child I
Lord Lovel- Spark (Kirkcudbrightshire) c.1873 Child J
__________
Child H
Ancient Poems, Ballads and Songs of the Peasantry of England, p. 78; Volume 17 edited by James Henry Dixon
VI. Lord Lovel
THE ballad of Lord Lovel is from a broadside printed in the metropolis during the present year. A version may be seen in Kinloch's Ancient Scottish Ballads, where it is given as taken down from the recitation of a lady in Roxburghshire. Mr. M. A. Richardson, the editor of the Local Historians Table Book, says that the ballad is ancient, and the hero is traditionally believed to have been one of the family of Lovele, or Delavalle, of Northumberland: the London printers say that their copy is very old. The two last verses are common to many ballads. From the tune being that to which the old ditty of Johnnie o’ Cockelsmuir is sung, it is not improbable that the story is of Northumbrian or Border origin.
Lord Lovel he stood at his castle gate,
Combing his milk-white steed;
When up came Lady Nancy Belle,
To wish her lover good speed, speed,
To wish her lover good speed.
Where are you going, Lord Lovel? she said,
Oh! where are you going? said she;
I’m going, my Lady Nancy Belle,
Strange countries for to see, see,
Strange countries for to see.
When will you be back, Lord Lovel? she said,
Oh! when will you come back? said she;
In a year or two—or three, at the most,
I’ll return to my fair Nancy, -cy,
I’ll return to my fair Nancy.
But he had not been gone a year and a day,
Strange countries for to see;
When languishing thoughts came into his head,
Lady Nancy Belle he would go see, see,
Lady Nancy Belle he would go see.
So he rode, and he rode on his milk-white steed,
Till he came to London town;
And there he heard St. Pancras bells,
And the people all mourning round, round,
And the people all mourning round.
Oh! what is the matter? Lord Lovel he said,
Oh! what is the matter? said he;
A lord’s lady is dead, a woman replied,
And some call her Lady Nancy-cy,
And some call her Lady Nancy.
So he ordered the grave to be opened wide,
And the shroud he turned down,
And there he kissed her clay-cold lips,
Till the tears came trickling down, down,
Till the tears came trickling down.
Lady Nancy she died, as it might be to-day,
Lord Lovel he died as to-morrow;
Lady Nancy she died out of pure, pure grief,
Lord Lovel he died out of sorrow, sorrow,
Lord Lovel he died out of sorrow.
Lady Nancy was laid in St. Pancras church,
Lord Lovel was laid in the choir;
And out of her bosom there grew a red rose,
And out of her lover’s a briar, briar,
And out of her lover’s a briar.
They grew, and they grew, to the church steeple, too,
And then they could grow no higher;
So there they entwined in a true-lover’s knot,
For all lovers true to admire-mire,
For all lovers true to admire.
_________________
Notes and queries - Page 449; Oxford Journals - 1870
"Lord Lovel."—Could you inform me who was the author of the old and ancient legend ballad, " Lord Lovel"? —
"Lord Lovel he stood at his castle gate,
A combing his milk-white steed."
Is this ballad in the Percy Society works? Who was the author, and when written?
Edgar.
[Response from Chappell: "Lord Lovel" is a modern burlesque ballad in imitation of an ancient one, entitled "Fair Margaret and Sweet William," printed in Percy's Reliques of Ancient Poetry. "Lord Lovel" will be found in The Casket of Comic Songs, etc., p. 9, as well as in Davidson's Universal Melodist, edit. 1847, i. 148, with the music. The authorship is unknown. It first became known in the metropolis by a comic singer of the name of Graham; but it was not received with eclat until poor Sam Cowell brought a copy of it in his pocket from Aberdeen about the year 1846, when it became a favourite song at Evans's and other Music Halls of the metropolis.]
[Response from Dixon: "Lord Lovel" (41* S. v. 449.)--The reply to the query of Edgar (ut supra) is altogether wrongs "Lord Lovel" is not a " modern burlesque," but a very old Northumbrian ballad, which has been familiar to me from my childhood and long before Sam. Cowell's popularity. I inserted the ballad in the Percy Society's edition of Ancient Poems, c/c, of the Peasantry (1846). I bad then several old broadsides before me, printed by Brockett of Durham, Angus of Newcastle, Pitts of Seven Dials, &c. &c. I made use of these various copies. The ballad is' also in different collections which I possess, but to which I cannot have access while travelling on the Continent. There is nothing particularly "comic" about "Lord Lovele"—for that is the proper title. In Kinloch's Ancient Scottish Ballads is a traditional version, printed long before Sam. Cowell was the idol, or rather the buffoon, of the cafe chantant. As to "Lord Lovell" being taken from "Fair Margaret and Sweet William," I think it much more likely that the reverse is the case. A ballad that introduces a "parish clerk" can have no especial claim to antiquity. The music is the old Border tune of the "Reach i' the creel": it was probably obtained from Graham, who, judging by his name, was probably a Borderer or a North Briton. There are several songs to the same air.
My friend Mr. Chappell, I am aware, considered "Lord Lovel" as modern. There are few men whose statements and assertions are more accurate; but in the above instance he "nodded," as Homer is said to do sometimes, and made an evident mistake. James Henry Dixon.
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Lord Lovel and Lady Nancy Bell, Comic Ballad, arranged by J. C. J. Finally, Barry notes the Joe Muggins treatment, which may be termed a parody of the parody. Sam Cowell's comic parody of Lord Lovell was published twice, no later than
Journal of the Folk-Song Society - Volume 6 - Page 32
Folk-Song Society (Great Britain) - 1922 - was very popular in the forties and fifties of the nineteenth century, from its use by such comic singers as Sam Cowell.
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12-1 Lord Levett (Roud 48, Child 75)
Nora Cleary, The Hand, near Miltown Malbay.
Rec. July 1976
Lord Levett, he stood on his own stable door,
And he mounted his snow-white steed.
Lady Anne Sweet Belle stood by his side,
For to bid him his last god-speed.
"Ah, where are you going Lord Levett?" she said,
"Ah, where are you going from me?"
"I am going to a land beyond the sea;
Strange countries I'd like to see."
"How long will you be, Lord Levett?" she said,
"How long will you be from me?"
"All for the sake of three long years,
Lady Anne Sweet Belle", said he.
"Ah, that is too long for true lovers to part;
And that is too long for me;
And that is too long for true lovers to part
And never again to meet."
As he was passing St Mary's Church,
A thought ran into his mind.
He thought he had a true lover at home,
And indeed, he dreamt she was dead.
"If she is dead", the captain replied,
"It's her you ne'er shall see."
"But I'll never sleep three nights of my life
'Til I see her dead or alive."
As he rode in to Saint Mary's Church,
And from that, to Erin Square,
It was there he heard the ring of a bell
And the people were mourning there.
"Oh what is this, this pretty fair maid?
Oh what is this?" he said.
Is it any of your friends that's going from home
Or is it any that's dead?"
"Oh yes, oh yes", the captain replied;
"The king's daughter is dead,
And she died for the sake of a noble young man,
Lord Levett, she called his name."
"If she is dead", Lord Levett, he cried;
"It's her you ne'er shall see;
But I'll never sleep three nights of my life,
'Til I see her dead or alive."
He was buried in Saint Mary's Church,
And she in Erin Square.
One of them grew a red, red rose,
The other a bonny briar.
They grew, they grew to the church steeple top,
'Til they could not grow any higher;
With a laugh and a tie in a true lover's knot,
And the red rose covered the briar.
Irish Music Review:
"The twelfth song on the first CD is Lord Levett (sometimes also called Lord Lovel[24](l) or Lord Donegal). Unfortunately, one of the most intriguing aspects of this song has not been mentioned in the notes. Roud records no fewer than four hundred and seventy-five references to the song having been collected in other English-speaking countries whereas hardly any versions have been found in Ireland. Jim and Pat write that the song's 'popularity has been put down to the ballad's simplicity of sentiment' which makes it even harder to understand why it has been so rarely heard in Ireland. Was there some as yet unidentified element in the song which deterred Irish singers from learning it?
The answer is probably not, for the more one delves, the more one discovers. Jim and Pat only cite one other recording, that of Walter Pardon, forgetting that Tom Lenihan also recorded the song on The Mount Callan Garland[25]. Yet, as Tom Munnelly recounts in the accompanying book[26], he had also recorded the song from Lenihan's friend and neighbour Tom 'Grifty' Griffin and from Nora Cleary who lived a couple of miles away (indeed the Lenihan version incorporates some of Nora's). (Plus, there may be other versions in the Department of Irish Folklore, which Roud hasn't yet accessed.)
Then, additionally, the song has been recorded by Con Greaney[27] and, perhaps most significantly of all, by Sarah and Rita Keane[28]. The latter's seven-minute version, under the Lord Donegal title, is magnificent in its intensity and utterly negates the quotation employed by Jim and Pat at the head of their notes that the song is 'too, too insipid'. Why our authors have chosen to ignore the Keanes' version is incomprehensible."
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From The Bodleian Library Ballads Catalogue: Harding B 26(289):
JOE MUGGINS.
Parody on "Lord Lovell."
Printed and sold only at the "Poet's Box," by JAMES
MOORE, 1, Castle-court, Belfast.
Joe Muggins he stood at his old doncay [sic] cart,
While a-combing his black-looking mop,
When up comes his love, then Sally Bell,
And this to her Muggins she spoke, spoke, spoke,
And this to her Muggins she spoke:
"Oh, where are you going, Joe Muggins?" she said,
"Oh, where are you going?" says she.
"It's I'm going away, love, Sally Bell,
To Smithfield to sell my donkey, donkey,
To Smithfield to sell my donkey."
"Oh, when will you back, Joe Muggins?" she said,
Or, "Ven vill you back?" say she.
"At 'alf-past five, or six, at the most,
So get me a red herring for tea, tea, tea,
So get me a red herring for tea."
He had not been away scarce a couple of hours,
To Smithfield, and sold his donkey,
When the thoughts of the herring came into his head,
Saying, "I hope it's a nice one," says he, says he,
"I hope it's a nice one," says he.
When he walked, and he walked, along Kennedy's Pad
Till he came to that far-famed "Rose and Crown,"
And there he saw his young woman lying drunk on the ground,
And the people a-fighting around, round, round,
And the people a-fighting around.
Then he sent for two boxes of Dr. Frew's pills,
Sixty-four of big mug he run down,
Saying, you won't get drunk in a hurry again,
As the pills they kept still running down, down, down,
As the pills they kept still running down.
Then pretty Sally Bell died through taking the pills,
And Joe he did shiver with fright,
Then he swallowed six dozen or seven at the most,
And he kicked the bucket that night, night, night,
And he kicked the bucket that night.
Pretty Sally Bell was buried as it might be to day,
Joe Muggins in less than a week;
When out of her bosom there grew a red carrot,
And out of Joe Muggins a leek, leek, leek,
And out of Joe Muggins a leek.
Now they grew, and they grew, to the top of the grave,
And they were not let grow any more,
So they cut them down to season the soup
That was given away to the poor, poor, poor,
That was given away to the poor.
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Below is as transcribed from the print version. [no source given]
JOE MUGGINS.
Parody on "Lord Lovell."
Joe Muggins he stood by his old donkey cart
A' stroking his old black moke
When up came his lady love, sweet Sally Belle
And thus to Joe Muggins she spoke, spoke, spoke
And thus to Joe Muggins she spoke
Where are you going, Joe Muggins, she said
Where are you going cried she
Oh I be a-going, you scamp Sally Belle
To Smithfield to sell my donkey ;key ;key
To Smithfield to sell my donkey.
When will you be back, Joe Muggins? she said
When will you be back, said she
About half past five, or six at the most
So yoo'll get me a bloater for tea, tea, tea
So yoo'll get me a bloater for tea.
Scarce had he been gone three hours or more
To Smithfield and sold his donkey
When the thoughts of his bloater came up in his head
Oh! I hope it's soft roed, said he, he, he
Oh! I hope it's soft roed, said he.
So homeward he went on the Marylebone stage
Till he came to the famed Rose and Crown
And he saw there his Lady-love stretched on the floor
And the people all fighting around, -round, -round
And the people all fighting around.
He sent for two boxes of Morrison's pills
Seven dozen her throat he rammed down
Saying "You won't get drunk in a hurry again"
As the pills she kept swallowing down, down, down
As the pills she kept swallowing down.
Poor Sally she died from the pills, so they say
Which made poor Joe Muggind afright
He swallowed twelve dozen without delay
And gave up the ghost that night, night, night
And gave up the ghost that night.
Joe Muggins was buried the very next day
And Sally in less than a week
And out of her ashes there grew a great carrot
And out of Joe Muggins a leek, leek, leek
And out of Joe Muggins a leek.
They grew and they grew to the top of the grave
Till they wasn't let grow any more
For cut up they were for to season the soup
That was given away to the poor, poor, poor
That was given away to the poor.
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Bronson 11. "Lord Lovell"
Sharp MS
Sung by Mrs. Honeybone, Ascott Sandford grandfather' a soldier
at Waterloo. He died at 83, when she was 17.
1. Lord Lovell he stood at his own-castle gate
A-combing his milk-white steed
When up- LadY NancY Bell
To wish her lover good speed.
2. O whcre are you going, Lord Lovcll, she said'
O where are You golng! crleo sne'
I am going, mY ladY NancY Bell,
Strangc countrics for to sce'
3. How long you'll bc gone, Lord I-orcll' shc said'
How long You'll 'bc gone, cnecl shc'
In a Ycai or two or threc at the least
I'll riturn to my Lady Nancyt c!, cY'
4. Hc had not been gone but a year and a day
' Strange countries for to sec
When . ,,r"ngt thought came into his head
Hc'd go and sec Lady Nancy' cee' cee'
5. He rodc and he rodc on his milk'whitc steed
, Till hc camc to London Town.
A;d ih.;. hc hcard thc church bclls ring
fh. P.oPl. all mourning around'
6. Ah who is deadl Lord Lovcll he said'
Ah who is dcad? cricd hc'
en old woman said: Some ladY is dead'
TheY callcd her LadY NancY'
7- Hc ordcred the shroud to bc turned around
'- e"a thc grave to bc oPcne.d. awide
nnJ th.n"he kissed hei coid clay checks
TilI the tcars came trickling down'
8. Lady Nancy she died as it might be today,
Lord Lovell he died as tomorrow'
And out of her nose there grcw a rcd rose
And out of Lord Lovell's a briar.
9. It grew and it grew till thc church steeple top
- Til-l it could grow no higher
And then it tuned rot'nl in a true lover's knot,
For all true lovcrs to admire'
1916 prints a rectificd tcxt.
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"Lord Lovel" from Set of Six Folk Songs and Ballads; Fuller Sisters - Cynthia and Dorothy of Dorset, England
Published by J. & E. Bumpus and Albert & Charles Boni, London and New York (1927)
Lord Lovel he stood at his castle gate,
a combing his milk white steed,
lVhen by camc Lady Nancy Bell
To wish her lover good spccd, speed, speed,
To wish hcr lover good speed.