Lord Thomas- Hammontree (AR) 1951 Carlisle
[From Ozark Folksong Collection- Reel 126 Item 4. Collected & Transcribed by Irene Carlisle
R. Matteson 2014]
Lord Thomas- Sung by Doney Hammontree of Bethel Grove, Arkansas; June 14, 1951.
"Oh, Mother, dear Mother," Lord Thomas said,
"Which shall I bring to you?
Oh, must I bring fair Ellender here,
Or bring you the brown girl home?"
(Repeat two last lines)
"The brown girl has both house and land;
Fair Ellender she has none;
Oh, I would advise you, at my best saying,
To bring me the brown girl home.
Yes, I would advise you, at my best saying,
To bring me the brown girl home."
He dressed himself in clothes most fine,
Although they were not green;
And every town that he rode through,
They took him to be a king.
Yes, every town that he rode through,
They took him to be a king.
He rode up to fair Ellender's gate,
And there the bell did ring;
There was none so willing as fair Ellender herself
To let Lord Thomas in.
(Repeat last two lines)
"What news, what news?" fair Ellender said.
What news have you brought to me?"
"I've come to invite you to my wedding;
Tomorrow it will be."
(Repeat as above)
"Bad news, bad news," fair Ellender said.
"Bad news you've brung to me.
I've always intended to be your bride,
And you the bridegroom to be."
(Repeat as above)
She dressed herself in silk most fine,
Although it was not green;
And every town that she passed through,
They took her to be a queen.
(Repeat as above)
She rode up to Lord Thomas' gate,
And there the bell did ring;
There was none so willing as Lord Thomas himself
To let fair Ellender in.
He took her by the lily-white hand
And led her through the hall,
And seated her at the head of the pew,
Among his nobles all;[1]
And seated her at the head of the pew,
Among his nobles all.
"Is this your bride?" fair Ellender said.
"I'm sure shes very brown;
You once could have got as fair a lady
As ever the sun shined on."
(Repeat last two lines)
The brown girl had a little pen-knife;
It was both keen and sharp;
She placed it between fair Ellender's ribs
and pierced her to the heart.
(Repeat last two lines)
"Oh, what's the matter?" Lord Thomas said;
"I'm sure you're very pale;
You once had as pretty red rosy cheeks
As ever my eyes beheld."
(Repeat as above)
"I'm killed, I'm killed!" fair Ellender said.
"Oh, can't you ever see?
I think I feel my own heart's blood
A-trinkling to my knee."
(Repeat as above)
Lord Thomas threw an angry fit,
And for his sword did call;
And he chopped off his own bride's head,
And threw it against the wall.
(Repeat as before)
"Oh, Mother, dear Mother, have my grave dug;
Dig it both wide and deep;
And bury fair Ellender in my arms,
And the brown girl at my feet.
Yes, bury fair Ellender in my arms,
And the brown girl at my feet."
With the handle of the sword placed on the floor,
And the point run through his heart;
There never was three so merrily met,
So sadly they did part.
(Repeat as above)
1. MS had "noble laws,"