Lady Margaret- Hopkins (IN) 1855 Brewster
[From Traditional Ballads from Indiana by Paul G. Brewster; The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 48, No. 190 (Oct. - Dec., 1935), pp. 295-317. Brewster more carefully dates this version in "Ballads and Songs From Indiana":
They were contributed by sisters, who had learned the song from an aunt more than fifty years ago. Both texts follow Child B rather closely, though lacking several of its stanzas. It will be noted that the motif of the plants entwining over the graves of the lovers is condensed.
Fifty years makes the date 1885, however the source, Mrs. Mary Toole Cohoon, was born c. 1848 and it's likely that she learned it when she was young. We don't don't know.
Brewster B was taken from Hopkins sister and both were learned from the same informant, their aunt Mary. So it's the same version. See info from "Ballads and Songs From Indiana" below. Notice that there are ten stanzas and that eleven are given in the JAFL version (measure 5, a partial measure is the extra measure).
R. Matteson 2011, 2014]
EARL BRAND (Child, No. 7)
Contributed by Mrs. A. J. Hopkins, Boonville. She writes of it:
"This song was one of 'Aunt Mary's songs,' so-called because they were first heard sung by my father's oldest sister, Mrs. Mary Toole Cohoon, who died just this year at the age of 87. In her earlier days she was what we called a 'great singer.' "
1. Lord William down from the Highlands rode,
It was all by the light of the moon;
He rode till he came to my lady's abode
And there he lighted down.
2. He mounted her on a milk-white steed
And himself on his gallant grey,
And with bugelet horn hung down by his side,
O how they rode away!
3. O he rode on and she rode on;
It was all by the light of the moon.
They rode till he spied her seven brothers bold,
And then they lighted down.
4. "Light ye down, Lady Margaret," he said,
"And hold my steed in your hand,
Until against your seven brothers bold
And your father, I make my stand."
5. "Light ye down, Lady Margaret," he said,
And he stood by his arms to fight;
. . .
. . .
6. She held his steed in her milk-white hand,
And never shed one tear
Until she saw her seven brothers fall,
And her father she loved most dear.
7. Then he lifted her on her milk-white steed
And himself on his gallant grey,
And with bugelet horn hung down by his side,
Slowly they rode away.
8. O he rode on and she rode on;
It was all by the light of the moon.
They rode till they came to the broad waterside,
And there they lighted down.
9. They lighted down to take a drink,
And the water was a crimson stain;
It was crimson-stained by her true-lover's blood,
And she saw that he was slain.
10. He died ere the midnight bell it tolled,
And ere the dawn of day
Lady Margaret died for her true-lover bold,
And by his side she lay.
11. They buried them both in the cold, cold tomb;
The grave it was deep, so deep;
And a twin briar rose, twining high overhead,
Only marks where these true-lovers sleep.
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EARL BRAND (Child, No. 7)
Two texts of this ballad have been recovered thus far. They were contributed by sisters, who had learned the song from an aunt more than fifty years ago. Both texts follow Child B rather closely, though lacking several of its stanzas. It will be noted that the motif of the plants entwining over the graves of the lovers is condensed.
For American texts, see Barry, Modern Language Notes, XXV, 104; Barry, Eckstorm, and Smyth, p. 35 (two variants and two airs); Cox, p. 18 (one variant); Brown, p. 9; Campbell and Sharp, No. 3; Davis, p. 86 (five variants) and p. 552 (two melodies); Greenleaf and Mansfield, p. 7; MacÂkenzie, Ballads, p. 9; Mackenzie, p. 60; Hudson, Folksongs, p. 66; Shearin and Combs, p. 7; Scarborough, Song Catcher, p. 115; Journal, XXVIII, 152, 200; XLII, 257; Henry, Songs Sung in the Southern Appalachians, p. 45; Henry, Folk-Songs from the Southern Highlands, p. 36; Randolph, Ozark Mountain Folks, p. 219.
A. "Lady Margaret." Contributed by Mrs. A. J. Hopkins, of Boonville, Indiana. Warrick County. July 20, 1935. With music.
side; Gaily he rode a-way.
1. Lord William down from the Highlands rode,
It was all by the light of the moon;
He rode till he came to my lady's abode,
And there he lighted down.
2. He mounted her on a milk-white steed
And himself on his gallant grey,
And with bugelet horn hung down by his side,
O how they rode away!
3. O he rode on and she rode on;
It was all by the light of the moon.
They rode till he spied her seven brothers bold,
And then they lighted down.
4. "Light ye down, Lady Margaret" he said,
"And hold my steed in your hand,
Until against your seven brothers bold
And your father I make my stand."
5. She held his steed in her milk-white hand,
And never shed one tear
Until her seven brothers fell
And her father she loved most dear.
6. Then he lifted her on her milk-white steed,
And himself on his gallant grey,
And with bugelet horn hung down by his side,
Slowly they rode away.
7. O he rode on and she rode on;
It was all by the light of the moon;
They rode till they came to the broad waterside,
And there they lighted down.
8. They lighted down to take a drink,
And the water was a crimson stain;
It was crimson-stained by her true love's blood,
And she saw that he was slain.
9. He died ere the midnight bell it tolled,
And ere the dawn of day
Lady Margaret died for her true love bold,
And by his side she lay.
10. They buried them both in the cold, cold tomb;
The grave it was deep, so deep;
And a twin briar rose, twining high overhead,
Only marks where these true lovers sleep.
B. "Lady Margaret." Practically identical with A. Contributed by Mrs. Helen B. Little, of Knoxville, Iowa. June 17, 1935.