Lord Thomas- Schell (NC) 1933 Matteson; Bronson 25
[From Beech Mountain Folk-Songs and Ballads, Henry/Matteson 1936, p.16. , collected by my grandfather, Maurice Matteson who arranged the music.
R. Matteson 2014]
"Lord Thomas"- Sung by Mrs. J . E. Schell, Banner Elk, N.C., July 21, 1933. Text from Miss Edith Robbins.
1. Lord Thomas rose up one merry morning
And dressed himself in blue;
Says, "Mother, I'm going to get married today,
And I want advice from you."
2. "I will advise you a blessing, my son,
To bring the brown girl home;
The brown girl has both money and land;
Fair Eleanor, she has none."
3. He called all his merry men down
And dressed them all in white;
And every city that he rode through
They took him to be some knight.'
4. He rode up to Fair Eleanor's hall
And knocked all at the ring,
And none was more willing than Fair Eleanor herself
To arise and let him in."
5. "Sad news, sad news, Fair Eleanor,
Sad news I bring unto you.
I've come to ask you to my wedding:
Sad news it is for you."
6. She turned 'round, her tears fell down,
And to her mother she said:
"Mother, must I go to Lord Thomas' wedding,
Or must I leave it alone?"
7. "I will advise you a blessing, my daughter,
To Lord Thomas' wedding, don't go."
For if you stay, you'll have many a friend,
Where you would have many a foe."
8. She called all her merry maids down,
And dressed them all in green,
And every city that she rode through
They took her to be some queen.
9. She rode up to Lord Thomas' hall
And knocked all at the ring;
And none was more willing-than Lord Thomas
To arise and let her in himself
10. He took her by the lily-white hand,
And led her through the hall,
And set her down at the head of the table,
Among the ladies all.
11. "Is this your bride, Lord Thomas?" she cried.
"Indeed, she's exceedingly brown,
Once you could have married the fairest lady
That ever the sun shone on."
12. "Hold your tongue, Fair Eleanor!
Don't throw her up to me.
I have more love for your little finger
Than the brown girl's whole body.
13. The brown girl having a sword in her hand,
It being both keen and sharp,
She thrust it into Fair Eleanor's side,
Which entered into her heart.
14. "What is wrong, Fair Eleanor?
What makes you look so pale?
When once I thought you the fairest lady
That ever the sun shone on."
15. "Are you blind, or can't you see?"
To Lord Thomas she cried,
"Can't you see my own heart's blood
Come trickling down my side?"
16. He took the sword from the brown girl's hand,
And led her from the hall.
He cut her head right off from the shoulders,
And kicked it against the wall.
17. Then Lord Thomas said "Go, dig my grave,
Go, dig it both wide and deep.
And place Fair Eleanor in my arms,
And the brown girl at my feet."