Lord Lovel- Purcell (VA) 1934 Davis CC
[Davis; More Traditional Ballads of Virginia; 1960. Mrs. Purcell contributed versions to Traditional Ballads of Virginia- 1929. Most of her versions were learned in the early 1890s; however, Davis does not give this info.
R. Matteson 2015]
CC. "Lord Lovell." Collected by Miss Margaret Purcell, of Greenwood, Va. Sung by her mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Ashton Garrett Purcell (Mrs. S. H. Purcell, of Greenwood, Va. Albemarle County. May, 1934. Tune noted by Winston Wilkinson.
Lord Lovell he stood at his castle gate,
A-combing his milk white steed,
When Lady Nancy Belle came by,
A-wishing her lover good speed, speecl, speed,
A-wishing her lover good speed.
"Oh, where are you going, Lord Lovell ?" she said,
"Oh, where are you going ?" said she.
"I'm going, my dear Lady Nancy Belle,
Far countries for to see, see, see,
Far countries for to see."
"When will you be back, Lord Lovell ?" said she.
"When will you be back ?" said she.
"In one or two years, or at the most three,
I'll return to my Lady Nancee, -cee, -cee,
f'11 return to my Lady Nancee."
He traveled and traveled the whole world around,
Till he came to London Town,
And there he met with a funeral,
And the people all weeping around, 'round, 'round,
And the people all weeping around.
"Who's dead? who's dead?" Lord Lovell he said,
"Who's dead? who's dead?" said he;
"Our Lord's only daughter," the people replied,
"And they called her the Lady Nance, 'ee, ee,
And they called her the Lady Nancee."
Lady Nancy she died as it might be today;
Lord Lovell as it might be tomorrow.
Lady Nancy she died of pure, pure grief,
Lord Lovell he died of sorrow, sorrow, sorrow,
Lord Lovell he died of sorrow.
Lady Nancy was buried in St. Mary's Church;
Lord Lovell was buried in the choir
And out of her bosom there grew a red rose,
And out of Lord Lovell's a brier, 'rier, 'rier,
And out of Lord Lovell's a brier.
They grew and they grew to the church steeple top,
And when they could grow no higher,
They there entwined in a true lovers, knot,
For all true lovers to admire, rire, rire,
For all true lovers to admire.