Lord Lovel- Gainer (WV) pre1975 Gainer
[From Folk Songs from the West Virginia Hills; Patrick Gainer, 1975. His notes follow. Patrick lived with his grandfather, F. C. Gainer, at an early age. His father died c. 1905 when Patrick was one. Patrick apparently didn't know ballad this while attending WVU c. 1924 (for Combs, Cox or Chappell would have gotten it then) so it's a mystery when he learned it. He has been known to recreate ballads and sources.
R. Matteson 2015]
LORD LOVEL
(CHILD 75, "LORD LOVEL")
"Lord Lovel" has been found numerous times in West Virginia, and it retains its old-world title almost without exception. There are very few textual variations, and the tunes are very much the same for all versions. Grandfather Gainer sang this version.
1. Lord Lovel stood at his castle gate,
A combing his milk-white steed.
When up came Lady Nancy Bell,
To wish her lover good speed, good speed,
To wish her lover good speed
2 "O where are you going, Lord Lovel?" she said,
"O where are you going?" said she.
"I'm going away, Miss Nancy Bell,
Strange countries for to see, to see,
Strange countries for to see."
3 "When will you be back, Lord Lovel?" she said,
"When will you be back?" said she.
"A year or two or three at the most,
I'll return to my Lady Nancee, Nancee,
I'll return to my Lady Nancee."
4 He had not been gone but a year and a day,
Strange countries for to see,
When languishing thoughts came into his head,
Lady Nancy Bell he would go see, go see,
Lady Nancy Bell he would go see.
5 So he rode and he rode, he rode and he rode,
Till he came to London Town,
And there he heard Saint Patrick's bells,
And the people all mourning around, around,
And the people all mourning around,
6 "O what is the matter?" Lord Lovel he said,
"O what is the matter?" said he,
"A lady is dead," the people all said,
"And they call her the Lady Nancee, Nancee,
And they call her the Lady Nancee."
7 He ordered the grave to be opened wide,
And the shroud to be let down,
And then he kissed the pale, pale face,
And the tears came a-trickling down, down, down,
And the tears came a-trickling down.
8 Lady Nancy she died as it might be today,
Lord Lovel he died on the morrow,
Lady Nancy she died for pure, pure grief,
Lord Lovel he died from sorrow, sorrow,
Lord Lovel he died from sorrow.
9 Lady Nancy was buried in the churchyard,
Lord Lovel he lay in the choir,
And out of her bosom there grew a red rose,
And out of her lover's a brier, a brier,
And out of her lover's a brier.
10 They grew and they grew to the church steeple top,
Till they couldn't grow up any higher,
Then they twined themselves in a true lover's knot,
For all true lovers to admire, admire,
For all true lovers to admire.