Lord Lovell- Housley (OH) 1939 Eddy C
[From: Ballads and Songs from Ohio; Eddy, 1939. Her notes follow. The opening verses are missing.
R. Matteson 2015]
LORD LOVEL
(Child, No.75)
Mrs. Housley was 91 years old when she sang this song for her son, Rev. Edwin L. Housley, and his wife to record.
C. LORD LOVELL
From Mrs. Anna E.Housley, Canton, Ohio.
1. Lord Lovell he rode on his milk-white horse
Till he reached to London town,
And there he heard St. Pancrum's bell,
And the people all mourning around.
And there he heard St. Pancrum's bell,
And the people all mourning around.
2. "Oh, what is the matter?" Lord Lovell he said,
"Oh, what is the matter?" said he;
"The Lord Lady's dead," the women replied,
"And some call her Lady Nancy."
3. He ordered her grave to be opened wide,
And her shroud to be turned down,
And there he kissed her clay-cold lips
Till the tears came trembling down.
4. Lady Nancy she died with a pure, pure green,
Lord Lovell he died with a sorrow;
Lady Nancy was laid in St. Pancrum's church,
Lord Lovell was laid in the choir.
5. Out of her bosom there grew a red rose,
And out of his bosom a brier;
It grew and it grew to the church steeple top,
And then it could grow no higher.
6. So there they entwined the true lovers' may,
For all the true lovers to admire,
And ever since then the roses are red,
And sharp indeed is the brier.