Lord Thomas- Tillett (NC) 1924 Chappell; 1941 Warner
[From: Traditional American Folk Songs, Warners; 1984, recorded from Tink's wife Eleazer (Eleazar) and her sister in 1941. Their son, Dick Tillet, recorded a version (melody from a neighbor, Mrs. Ivey Evans) found on A North Carolina Sampler. This was surely known by Tink Tillet Eleazor's husband but appears to be from the Etheridge side of the family. Here's a brief bio on him.
"Tink" Tillett was one of Chappell's best informants and in the early 1920s Tillett also gave ballads to the Brown Collection. Around 1940 Frank and Anne Warner began collecting songs from him. They write in a CD liner notes: ". . .we learned this song from Mr. C.K. Tillett in the town of Wanchese on Roanoke Island. On that part of the coast live a group of people known as bankers, because they live on the sand banks. A couple of generations ago, they were completely isolated from the world by the Albemarle, Currituck, and Pamlico Sounds which separate their strip of land from the mainland. Tink Tillett knew fishing (it was his trade) and the sea and its ways. He also knew many a fine song which he had learned as a young man from people whose memories stretched back to the 1840's, so he sang his songs with the pioneer flavor which is so interesting and, now, so rare."
The informant's husband Charles Kitchen Tillett Sr. (b. August, 19, 1873 in Wanchese, Dare, North Carolina-- d. April 6, 1941 in Wanchese, Dare, North Carolina) was a musician and fisherman on Roanoke Island, NC. His father was Thomas Tillett (1831 – 1897 Nag's Head, NC) and mother, Sophia Frances Daniels (1832 – 1882). He was married in 1896 to Eleazor G. Gallop (1874- 1968) who also contributed songs and ballads to the Warners and the Brown Collection. His sons Charles Ketchum (aka-Cliff) Tillett Jr. (1902– 1985) and Richard (Dick) W. Tillett (1909 – ) also sang the family ballads and songs.
R. Matteson 2012, 2014]
Lord Thomas- Eleazer Tillett and Martha Etheridge (Eleazer's sister) (Wanchese, NC) 1941 Warner
Lord Thomas was a very kind lad,
The love of many had gained.
Fair Ellen she was a very poor girl,
Lord Thomas loved her well.
"Mother, O Mother, come riddle my riddle,
Come riddle both in one.
Shall I marry fair Eleanor,
Or bring the brown girl home?"
"The brown girl she has houses and lands,
Fair Ellen she has none.
I will advise you a very good blessing
To bring the brown girl home.''
He dressed himself in very red,
In very red and green,
And every city that he rode through
They taken him to be the king.
He rode up to fair Ellen's hall,
And lightly tapped on the ring,
Who should be ready but fair Ellen herself
To arise and let him come in.
"'What's the matter, Lord Thomas?" she cried,
"'What's the matter?" said she.
"I have come to ask you to my wedding,"
'And that's bad news," said she.
"Mother, O Mother, come riddle my riddle
Come riddle it both in one.
Shall I go to Lord Thomas's wedding,
Or stay with you at home?"
"You know that few will be your friends,
But many will be Your foes.
I will advise you as a very good blessing
To Lord Thomas's wedding don't go'"
"I know that few will be my friends,
And many will be my foes.
But what cares I for all of that?
To Lord Thomas's wedding I'll go."
She dressed herself in very red,.
In very red and green.
And every city that she rode through
They took her to be the queen.
She rode till she came to Lord Thomas's hall,
And lightly she tapped on the ring.
None so ready as Lord Thomas himself
To rise and let her come in.
He took her by her lily white hand,
And led her through the hall,
And sat her down at the head of the table
Among the ladies all.
"Is that your bride?" fair Ellen cried,
"I think she looks wonderful brown,
When you might have married as fair a young girl
As ever the sun shone on."
"Despise her not," Lord Thomas cried,
"Despise her not," cried he.
"For I love the end of your little finger
Better than her whole body."
The brown girl having a little pen knife,
The blade was keen and sharp,
Right between fair Ellen's ribs
She pierced her to the heart.
"I'm blind, I'm blind," fair Ellen cried,
"I think I scarce can see.
I think I feel my own heart's blood
Come trickling down my knee."
He took the brown girl by the hand,
And led her through the hall,
Took out his sword, cut off her head.
And threw it against the wall.
He put the point against his heart,
The handle against his chest.
"This is the end of three long lives.
Lord, take our souls to rest."
"Father, O Father, go dig my grave,
Go dig it both wide and deep.
Bury fair Ellen in my arms
And the brown girl at my feet."