Lord Lovell- Callahan (NC) c. 1932 Scarborough B; Bronson No. 8.
[From A Song Catcher; Scarborough, 1937. Version B.
R. Matteson 2015]
B. "Lord Lovell" Scarborough, 1937, p.389(B); text, p. 101. Sung by Clara Callahan, Salada, N.C., c. 1932.
1. Lord Lovel stood at his castle gate
A-combing his milk-white steed,
When up came Lady Nancy Belle
To wish her lover good speed, good speed,
To wish her lover good speed.
2. Oh, where are you going, Lord Lovell she said;
Oh, where are you going? cried she;
I'm going away, Lady Nancy Belle,
Strange countries for to see, see, see,
Strange countries for to see.
3. How long will you be gone, Lord Lovel? she said;
How long will you be gone? cried she;
In a year or two or three at the most
I'll return to my Lady Nancy, cy, cy,
I'll return to my Lady-Nancy.'
4. He had not been gone but a year and a day
Strange countries for to see,
When a strange thought came into his head,
He'd go see his Lady Nancy, cy, cy.
He'd go see his Lady Nancy.
5. He rode and he rode on his milk-white steed
Till he came to London Town,
And there he heard the church bells ringing,
And the people all mourning around, 'round,'round,
And the people all mourning around.
6. And who is dead? Lord Lovel he said.
And who is dead? said he;
An old woman said, Some lady is dead
And they call her Lady Nancy, cy, cy,
And they call her Lady Nancy.
7. He ordered the grave to be opened wide,
And the shroud to be turned around.
And then he kissed her clay-cold lips
Till the tears came trickling dgwn, down, down,
Till the rears came trickling down.
8. Lady Nancy she died as it might be today,
Lord Lovel he died tomorrow,
Lady Nancy died of pure, pure grief,
Lord Lovel died of sorrow-sorrow,
Lord Lovel died of sorrow.
9. The one was buried in the lower church,
The other buried in the higher;
From one sprang a gallant red rose,
From the other a gilliflower, flower,
From the other a gilliflower.
10. And there they grew and turned and twined
Till they gained the church top,
And there they grew and turned and twined
And tied in a true lover's knot, knot,
And tied in a true lover's knot.