Lord Lovel & Lady Nancy- Sturgill (KY-NC) 1957 REC
[From; Virgil Sturgill 1957 recording also from Digital Appalachia (2 verses) from 1976. Listen:
http://dla.acaweb.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/Warren/id/1658/rec/1
R. Matteson 2015]
Bio from Sturgill Papers: Virgil Sturgill was born in 1897 in Carter County, Kentucky. After his mother Polly Burris Sturgill died in 1914, Sturgill's father moved to Idaho leaving his children with family members. In 1914, Sturgill began teaching at 17 years old. He moved to Oklahoma in 1915 and attended East Central State Normal School. In 1918, he enlisted in the Navy in Oklahoma City. While in the Navy, he worked in the Hospital Corp and attended Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. After leaving the Navy, Sturgill studied at Berea College and University of Kentucky and worked as a teacher and coach.
In 1932, he married Ruth Virginia Norton (b. ~1911) and they had two sons, Jack and Lee. He taught English, debate and acted as the Director of Athletics at Ashland High School in the 1930s and early 1940s. In 1943 to 1946, Sturgill worked as assistant director of the American Red Cross in Camp Blanding, Florida. In 1945, Sturgill discusses his divorce and subsequent remarriage to his wife. During their brief divorce, Ruth moved back to Ashland to live with her parents. Ruth and Sturgill reunited within one year of divorce. In the late 1940s and 1950s, Sturgill worked at the Veterans Hospital in Oteen, North Carolina. He was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Ashland (Kentucky) Chapter No. 119. Sturgill supported his sister Olive financially for eight years.
A ballad singer and dulcimer player, he was also a friend of Cratis Williams. His performances were recorded in "Southern mountain folksongs and ballads" (1955) and "Bury me beneath the willow a treasury of southern mountain folksongs and ballads" (1950s). Eastern Kentucky University contains his collection, "Summer in Kentucky and other poems" (1928).
"Lord Lovel and Lady Nancy"- Virgil Sturgill 1957 recording
Lord Lovel he stood at his castle gate
Combing his milk-white steed.
When along came Lady Nancy Bell,
A-wishing Lord Lovel good speed, speed, speed,
A-wishing Lord Lovel good speed.
"Where are you going, Lord Lovel," she said,
"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."
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