Lord Lovel- Mason (Neb.) 1863 Pound A
[From American Ballads and Songs- Louise Pound, 1922.
R. Matteson 2014]
2. (A) LORD LOVEL Text obtained from S. J. Mason of Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1906, who "learned it at Aledo, Illinois, about 1863." Child, No. 75.
Lord Lovel was standing at his castle gate,
A-combing his milk-white steed,
When up stepped Lady Nancy Belle,
A-wishing her lover good speed, speed, speed,
A-wishing her lover good speed.
"Where are you going, Lord Lovel?" she said,
"Where are you going?" said she.
"I'm going, my love," Lord Lovel replied.
"New countries for to see, see, see,
New countries for to sec.
Lord Lovel was gone just a year and a day,
New countries for to see,
When languishing thoughts came over his mind,
Lady Nancy he must go see, see, see,
Lady Nancy he must go see.
He mounted upon his milk-white steed,
And rode to far London town.
And there he heard St. Patrick's bells,
And the people came mourning, around, round, round,
And the people came mourning around.
"O who hath died?" Lord Lovel said,
"O who hath died?" said he.
"A lady hath died," a woman replied,
"And they call her Lady Nancy, -cy, -cy,
And they call her Lady Nancy."
He ordered her grave to be opened wide,
Her shroud to be folded down,
And there he kissed her pale cold cheeks
Till the tears came trinkling down, down, down,
Till the tears came trinkling down.
Lady Nancy she died on Good Friday,
Lord Lovel he died on the morrow;
Lady Nancy she died for pure true love,
Lord Lovel he died for sorrow.