Lord Lovel- Abbot (VA) 1936 Wilkinson A
[From Wilkinson MSS., 1936-37, p. 10(A); from Bronson TTCB No. 16.
R. Matteson 2015]
"Lord Lovel"- Sung by Charles Abbot, Bellevue, Va., October 14, 1936.
1. Lord Lovel he stood at his castle gate,
Combing his milk white steed;
When up came Lady Nancy Bell
To bid her lover good speed,
To bid her lover good speed.
2. O where are you going, Lord Lovel? she cried,
O where are you going? cried she.
I'm going away for a year and a day,
Strange countries for to see, see, see'
Strange countries for to see.
3. But he had not been gone a year and a day,
Strange countries for to see,
When longing thoughts came over his heart,
Lady Nancy he would see, see, see,
Lady Nancy he would see.
4. So he rode and he rode on his milk white steed,
Till he came to London town;
And there he heard St. Pancras' bell ring,
And the people all mourning around, round, round,
And the people all mourning around.
5. Who's dead, who's dead? Lord Lovel he cried,
O tell me who's dead, cried he.
A lady is dead, the people all said,
And some call her Lady Nancy, 'cy, 'cy,
And some call her Lady Nancy.
6. He ordered the bier to be opened wide,
The shroud to be turned down;
And then he kissed her cold clay cheeks,
And the tears came trickling down, down, down,
And the tears came trickling down.
7. They buried Lady Nancy within the churchyard,
Lord Lovel they buried in the choir;
And out of her breast there grew a red rose,
And out of his a brier, 'rier, 'rier,
And out of his a brier.
8. They grew and they grew till they reached the church top,
And when they could grow no higher
They twined themselves round a true lover's knot,
For all true lovers to admire, 'rire, 'rire,
For all true lovers to admire.