Lord Lavell- Ravior (NJ) 1906 Barry BFSSNE
[From Barry- Bulletin of the Folksong Society of the Northeast; Vol. 1, 1930. His notes follow. One of the rare US versions (although learned in Ireland) of the older tradition of this ballad as found in Child A-G.
R. Matteson 2015]
We have here a version of the ballad very close to the original text which in the 1830's was turned into a comic stage song.
The ballad at its best has little plot, and the balance between humor and pathos is unstable, but the mood of the Irish tradition has always been serious. Irish versions accordingly, should always be taken down.
"An Irishman", said Mrs. Ravior, "always feels that going to England is to take a long journey to a foreign country."
LORD LAVELL- taken down by Phillips Barry in 1906 from Mrs. Elizabeth (O'Fareell) Ravior, Vineland New Jersey, a native of County Sligo.
1 Lord Lavell he stood at his own stable door,
Coming down his milk-white steed,
When along came Lady Anciebel,
Wishing Lord Lavell great speed.
2. "Where are you going, Lord Lavell?" she says,
"'Where are you going from me?"
"I am going to England, fair lady," he says,
Strange countries for to go see."
3. "Oh, when will you return, Lord Lavell," she says,
"Oh, when will you return unto me?"
"In the space of three years, fair lady," he says,
"It's then I'll return unto thee."
4. "Oh, that is too long, Lord Lavell," she says,
"Oh, that is too long for me!"
Oh, that is too long for a courteous young lady
To wait on your fair body!"
5. Lord Lavell, he rode a mile out of town,
O scarcely a mile or three,
When some anguishing thought came into his heart,
Lady Anciebel for to go see.
6. Lord Lavell he rode to his own father's gate,
And from that to his own father's hall;
There he heard the chapel bell ringing,
And the ladies in mourning all.
7. And 'twas there then he asked who was dead,
And they answered, "Lady Anciebel;
She died for the sake of a courteous young lad,
And his name it was Lord Lavell."
8. Then he ordered the coffin to be opened,
And the sheets to be folded sown,
And there he Kissed her cold, cold lips,
And the tears they came trinckling down.
8. "It's often and often I've kissed your ruby lips,
And you have often kissed mine;
It's often and often I've kissed your luby lips,
But we never shall kiss after dyin'!"
9. Lady Anciebel she died to-day,
And Lord Lavell supposin' to-morrow;
. . .
. . .
11. Lady Anciebel was buried in the old churchyard,
And Lord Lavell in the old church square;
Out of Lady Anciebel there grew a red rose,
And out of Lord Lavell a briar.
12. There they grew and there they twined,
Until they could grow no higher,
There they casted a true lover's knot,
And there they remain forever.