Lord Lovel- Williams/Grant (NS) 1950 Creighton
[From Traditional Songs from Nova Scotia Creighton and Senior, 1950, p. 41-2. Bronson divides this into two versions with the same melody. His B is sung by Mrs. Thomas Grant, Ostrca Lake, NS and his A is sung by Dennis Williams, Musquodoboit, NS.
This ballad is rare in Nova Scotia.
R. Matteson 2015]
Lord Lovel
1. Lord Lovel he stood by his castle gate
Combing his milk white steed,
When up came Lady Nancybelle
To wish her lover good speed.
2. "Oh where are you going Lord Lovel?" she says,
"Oh where are you going? said she.
"I'm going away my fair Nancy
Strange counterces tor to see.
3. "When will you be back Lord Lovel"' she says,
"When will you be back?" saYs she'
"In a year or two or three at the most
I'll return to my fair Nancy."
4. But he had not been gone a year and a day
Strange countries for to see
When languishing thoughts came into his head
Lady Nancybelle he would go see.
5. So he rode and he rode on his milk white steed
Till he came to London town,
And there he heard St. Pancras' bells
And the people all mourning 'round.
6. "Oh what is the matter?" Lord Lovel said,
"Oh what is the matter?" said he,
"A lord's lady is dead," a woman replied,
"And some call her Nancybelle."
7. So he ordered the grave to be opened wide
And the shroud he turned down'
And there he kissed her clay cold lips
Till the tears came trinkling down.
8. Lady Nancy she died as might be today,
Lord Lovel he died as to-morrow,
Lady Nancy died out of pure pure love,
Lori Lovel'he died out of sorrow.
9. Lady Nancy was laid in St. Pancras' church,
Lord Lovel was laid in the choir,
Out of her bosom a lily red rose,
Out of her husband's a briar.
10. Lord Lovel he died out of pure pure love,
Ladv Nancy she died out of sorrow,
And out of her bosom there grew a red rose
And out of Lord Lovel's a briar.
11. It grew and it grew to the church steeple's top
Until it could grow no higher,
And there it did tie in a true lover's knot
To all true lovers a briar.
(or, For all true lovers to admire.)