Lord Lovel- Brower (NC) 1916 Brown C
[From the Brown Collection of NC Folklore; Vol. 2, 1953. The editors' notes follow.
R. Matteson 2015]
Lord Lovel (Child 75)
Possibly it is the very simplicity of the sentiment that has made this ballad so persistent a favorite; certainly it has little else (unless, perhaps, the tune) to commend it. For its range since Child's time, both in the old country and in America, see BSM 52. To the texts there listed should be added Kentucky (BTFLS iii 92), Tennessee (SFLQ xi 124-5), North Carolina (FSRA 27-8), Florida (SFLQ viii 150-2), Missouri (OFS i 113-15). Ohio (BSO 39-45), Indiana (BSI 79-91), and Michigan (BSSM 27-8). The texts vary but little, going back, perhaps in all cases, to a London broadside of a hundred years ago, Child's H. To the variations in the name of the church whose bells announce the death of the lady, some of which are listed in BSM, North Carolina adds one more, "St. Banner's" (version B below). For the most part the church is not named in the North Carolina texts; Lord Lovel returns to "Cruel Clark's" (A), to "London Tower" (C), to "London town" (D F G) and hears the bells, but the church is not named. For an adaptation to the purposes of political satire during the Civil War, see volume 111, section ix.
The texts are so much alike that only a few are given in extenso.
C. 'Lord Lovel.' Communicated by R. Frank Brower of Durham in 1916. Given here as a representative text.
1 Lord Lovel stood at the castle gate
A-slicking his milk-white horse.
When in came Lady Nancy Bell
A-wishing her lover good speed speed speed,
A-wishing her lover good speed.
(Repeat thus the end of each stanza)
2 'Oh, where are you going, Lord Lovel?' said she,
'Oh, where are you going?' said she.
. . . . . .
'Far countries for to see.'
3 'When will you be back, Lord Lovel?' said she,
'When will you come to me?'
'In a year and a day, or three at least,
I'll return to my fair Nancy.'
4. He hadn't been gone but a year and a day
Far countries for to see.
When languishing thoughts came on his mind
'Lady Nancy I must go to see.'
5. He rode and he rode on his milk-white horse
Till he came to London Tower
. . . . .
And the people all mourning around.
6 He ordered the coffin to be opened wide
And the shroud should be undone;
And on his white pocket handkerchief
The tears came trickling down.
7 Lady Nancy she died as it were on today,
Lord Lovel he died on tomorrow.
Lady Nancy she died of a broken heart,
Lord Lovel he died of sorrow.
8 Lady Nancy was laid in the high churchyard.
Lord Lovel was laid in the tower.
And out of her grave there grew a red rose
And out of Lord Lovel's grew a brier.
9 It grew and it grew to the church steeple top,
It grew till it could grow no higher.
They twingled and twined in a true lovers' knot
For all true lovers to admire, mire, mire,
For all true lovers to admire.