Lord Lovel- Ross (OH) 1922 JAFL Eddy A
[From: Ballads and Songs from Ohio; Eddy, 1939. Single stanza w/ music text from Eddy B.
R. Matteson 2015]
LORD LOVEL
(Child, No.75)
A. From Mrs. Daniel Ross; Shreve, Ohio. Date 1922 JAF Tolman Text from B, first stanza is identical.
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.
[text was almost identical with B which follows]
"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."
"Oh, when will you be back," she says,
"Oh, when will you be back," says she;
"In a year or two or three at the most
I'll return to my fair lady."
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.
He rode and he rode on his milk-white steed,
Till he came to London town,
And there he heard St. Varney's bell chime,
And the people all mourning round.
"Is anybody dead?" Lord Lovel he said,
"Is anybody dead?" says he;
"A lord's daughter is dead," a lady replied,
"And some call her Lady Nancy."
He ordered the grave to be opened wide,
And the shroud to be folded down
And there he kissed her clay-cold lips,
Till the tears came trickling down.
Lady Nancy died as it was yesterday,
Lord Lovel he died as tomorrow,
And out of her breast there grew a red rose,
But out of Lord Lovel's a brier.
They grew and they grew to the church steeple top,
And there they could grow no higher;
And there they entwined in a true lovers' knot
For all true lovers to admire.