Lord Lovel- Smith (VA) 1931 Davis BB
[Davis; More Traditional Ballads of Virginia; 1960.
R. Matteson 2015]
BB. "Lord Lovel." Collected by Fred F. Knobloch, of Crozet, Va. Sung by Mrs. Thomas Smith, of Charlottesville, Va., who learned it from her mother, Mrs. Theodore Haileck, of Stroudsburg, Pa. Albemarle County. April 21, 1931. Tune noted by Mr. Knobloch.
Lord Lovel stood at his castle gate,
Combing his milk-white steed,
When along came Lady Nancy Bell,
Bidding her lover good speed, speed, speed,
Bidding her lover good speed.
"Where are you going, Lord Lovel?" she said,
"Where are you going?" said she.
"I'm going afar," Lord Lovel replied,
"Fair countries for to see, see, see,
Fair countries for to see."
3. "How long will you be gone?" Lady Nancy cried,
"How long will you be gone?" said she.
"I'm going to be gone a year and a day,
Fair countries for to see, see, see,
Fair countries for to see."[1]
4. He hadn't been gone but a year and a day,
Fair countries for to see,
When languishing thoughts came over him
Lady Nancy for to see, see, see,
Lady Nancy for to see.
5. He rode and he rode for a year and a day,
Till he came to London town,
And there he saw all over the streets
The people go mourning round and around,
The people go mourning around.
6. "Is anyone dead ?" Lord Lovel said,
"Is anyone dead?" said he.
"A lady is dead," the people all said,
"And they call her the Lady Nancee, 'cee, 'cee,
They call her the Lady Nancee."
7. Lady Nancy died as it were today;
Lord Lovel he died on the morrow.
Lady Nancy died of a pure broken heart;
Lord Lovel died of sorrow, sorrow' sorrow,
Lord Lovel died of sorrow.
8 They buried Lady Nancy beneath the chancel rail,
And they buried Lord Lovel right by her,
And out of her bosom there grew a red rose,
And out of Lord Lovel's a briar, 'riar,'riar,
And out of lord lovel's a briar.
9 They grew and they grew to church steeple top,
Till they couldn't grow the least bit higher,
And they twined themselves in a true lovers knot,
For all good folks to admire, 'mire, 'mire,
For all good folks to admire.
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1. Mrs. Smith gave the following as a variation of the third stanza:
"How long will you be gone, Lord Lovel?" she said
"How long will you be gone," said she.
"A year or two, or three at the most,
And then I'll return to thee, 'ee, 'ee,
And then I'll return to thee."