Lord Lovall- Tucker (MD) pre1940 Carey
[From: Maryland Folk Songs- Carey, 1971. I'll leave the way Carey arranged the text although it deviates from the norm. This version is likely from the 1800s since Mrs. Tucker died in 1944 at an advanced age.
R. Matteson 2015]
Lord Lovall- From the repertoire of Mrs. Tucker; pre 1940.
1. Lord Lovall stood at his castle gate
A combing his milk white steed;
Up steps Lady Nancy Bell,
And wishes Lord Lovall good speed,
Speed, speed, and wishes Lord Lovall good speed.
2. "Where are you going, Lord Lovall?" she said,
'Where are you going?" said she:
I'm going to some foreign land,
Strange country for to go see,
See, see, strange country for to go see."
3. "When will you return, Lord Lovall?" she said,
"When will you return?" said she,
"In one or two or three years time,
I'll return to my Lady Nancee,
Cee, cee, I'll return to my Lady Nancee."
4. He had not gone but a year and one day,
Strange country for to go see,
When lingering thoughts came into his mind:
Lady Nancy he would go see,
See, see, Lady Nancy he would go see.
5. He rode 'till he came to fair London town:
He could not ride any further,
And there he saw a funeral preparing,
And people all mourning around,
Round, round, and people all mourning around.
6. "Who is dead?" Lord Lovall he said,
"Who is dead?" said he:
"Our landlady is dead, " and old woman said,
"And some call her Lady Nancee,
Cee, cee, and some call her Lady Nancee. "
7. He ordered the grave to be opened wide:
The sun it shrouded round;
As he kissed her cold clay lips,
The tears came trickling down,
Down, down, the tears came trickling down.
B. Lady Nancy Bell died it may be said today;
Lord Lovall he died tomorrow;
Lady Nancy Bell died of pure, pure grief;
And Lord Lovall he died of sorrow, -
Row, row, and Lord Lovall he died of sorrow.
9. They buried Lady Nancy Bell in the churchyard;
They buried Lord Lovall in the choir;
And over Lady Nancy Bell grew a red rose,
And over Lord Lovall a briar,
Briar, briar, and over Lord Lovall a briar.
10. They grew and they grew to the church steeple top;
They could not grow any higher,
And there they tied in a true lover's knot
For all young people to admire,
Admire, admire, for all young people to admire.