Lord Lovel- Dickenson/Dehon (SC) 1913; Sandburg 1927
[From Reed Smith- version A; South Carolina Ballads; 1928. The melody is taken from Smith's B version W. R. Dehon in 1904. Sandburg's notes follow.
R. Matteson 2012, 2014]
LORD LOVEL
Among the most widespread ballads in the United States is "Lord Lovel." The version here is from the collection of Reed Smith of the University of South Carolina; the melody is from W. R. Dehon and the text from Caroline S. Dickinson. The mood and way of this song is peculiar. It is to be sung and not read. Why this is so, Mr. Smith explains in this note: " 'Lord Lovel' clearly shows how necessary it is to deal with ballads as songs and not merely as poems. The text of 'Lord Lovel' is sad and mournful. The tune, however, is lilting and rollicking, and with the triple repetition of the last word of the fourth line, turns the tear into a smile. The difference between reading it as a poem and singing it as a song is the difference between tragedy and comedy."
1. Lord Lovel he stood at his castle gate,
A-combing his milk-white steed;
When along came Lady Nancy Bell,
A- wishing her lover good speed, speed, speed,
A-wishing her lover good speed.
2. "Oh where are you going, Lord Lovel?" she said;
"Oh where are you going?" said she.
"I'm going, my dear Lady Nancy Bell,
Strange countries for to see, see, see,
Strange countries for to see."
3. "When will you be back, Lord Lovel?" she said;
"When will you be back?" said she.
"In a year or two or three at the most
I'll return to my Lady Nancee-cee, cee,
I'll return to my Lady Nancee."
4. He'd not been gone but a year and a day,
Strange countries for to see,
When languishing thoughts came into his mind
Lady Nancy Bell he would see.
5. He rode and he rode on his milk-white steed,
Till he reached fair London Town;
And there he heard St. Varney's bell
And the people all mourning around.
6. "Is any one dead?" Lord Lovel he said;
"Is any one dead?" said he.
"A lady is dead," the people all said,
"And they call her Lady Nancy."
7. He ordered the grave to be opened forthwith,
The shroud to be folded down;
And then he kissed her clay-cold lips
Till the tears came trickling down.
8. Lady Nancy she died as it might be today,
Lord Lovel he died tomorrow.
Lady Nancy she died of pure, pure grief,
Lord Lovel he died of sorrow.
9. Lady Nancy was laid in St. Clement's churchyard,
Lord Lovell was buried close by her;
And out of her bosom there grew a red rose,
And out of his backbone a briar.
10. They grew and they grew on the old church tower,
Till they couldn't grow up any higher;
And there they tied in a true lover's knot,
For all true lovers to admire.