Lord Lovel- McKeithan (NC) 1961 Hudson/Joyner
[From Folk Song in South Carolina by Charles W. Joyner, 1971. His notes follow.
R. Matteson 2014]
Lord Lovel- As sung by Mrs. Norman McKeithan, Aberdeen, N.C., 1961. Arthur Palmer Hudson Folksong collection, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Mrs. McKeithan as a child learned the ballad from her father in Charleston. Transcribed by C.W.J. used by permission of Arthur Palmer Hudson.
1. Lord Lovel stood at his castle gate,
Combing his milk white steed;
When along came Lady Nancy Belle,
To bid her lover good speed, speed, speed;
To bid her lover good speed.
2. Oh where are you going, Lord Lovel? she cried.
Oh where are you going? cried she.
I'm going a traveling Lady Nancy Belle,
Strange countries for to see, see, see.
Strange countries for to see.
3. And when will you be back Lord Lovel she cried
And when will you be back cried she
In a year and a half or two at the most
I'll return to Lady Nancy-cy-cy (Nan-see-see-see)
I'll return to Lady Nancy (Nan-sigh)
4. He had not been gone but a year and a day
Strange countries for to see
When a languishing rude came over his heart
I'll return to Lady Nancy, cy, -cy,
I'll return to Lady Nancy
5. He rode and he rode on his milk-white steed
Till he came to London Town
And there he heard St. Barney's bell
And the folks a'moaning around round round
And the folks a'moaning around
6. Oh what is the matter Lord Lovel he cried
Oh what is the matter cried he
The lord's daughter is dead a woman replied
And some call her Lady Nancy, cy, cy,
And some call her Lady Nancy.
7. Lady Nancy Belle she died today
Lord Lovel he died tomorrow
Lady Nancy Belle she died of grief
Lord Lovel he died of sorrow, row, row
Lord Lovel he died of sorrow.
8 They placed him in the cold churchyard
But they put her in the choir
And out of her breast there grew a red rose
And out of his grew a brier brier brier
And out of his grew a brier
9 They grew and they grew to the church steeple top
And then they could grow no higher
There they twined in a true-lover's knot
For all good folks to admire-mire-mire
For all good folks to admire