Lord Thomas- (TN-VA) 1934 Cambiaire A
[No informant, place or date given. From Eastern Tennessee and Western Virginia Mountain Ballads- Cambiaire, 1934.
One of two versions that names the brown girl, Sally Brown.
R. Matteson 2014]
19. LORD THOMAS.
Lord Thomas he was a gay young man,
He was a lord of many a town
He courted a girl called "pretty fair Ellen,"
And another called "Sally Brown."
"Father and mother, I ask you both,
I ask you both as one,
Whether I must marry wi' "pretty Fair Ellen,"
Or bring the Brown girl home."
"The Brown girl she has houses and lands,
Fair Ellen she has none,
If you'll take advice from such a kind friend
You'll bring the Brown girl home."
He rode up to Fair Ellen's hall,
So loud he called it did ring,
No one was so ready as Fair Ellen herself
To rise and bid him walk in.
"Bad news, bad news, Fair Ellen," he said,
"Bad news, bad news indeed,
I come to ask you to my wedding
All on next Thursday it will be."
"Bad news, bad news, Lord Thomas," she said,
"Bad news, bad news indeed,
I always intended to be your bride
And you the bridegroom for me."
"Father and mother, I ask you both,
I ask you both as one,
Should I go to Lord Thomas, wedding,
Or tarry wi' you mother at home?"
" Many there will be my friend
And many will be my foe,
If you'll take advice from such a kind friend
You'll tarry wi' your mother at home?"
"'Many there will be my friend,
And many will be my foe,
But little do I care for my friend or my foe
To Lord Thomas' wedding I'll go."
She dressed herself in scarlet red,
And her mantle was white and green,
And every town she rode around,
She was taken for a queen.
She rode up to Lord Thomas, hall,
So loudly knocked, it did ring,
No one was so ready as Lord Thomas himself,
To rise and bid her come in.
He took her by her lily white hand,
He led her across the hall,
She sat at the head of the table,
Among those ladies all.
"Is this your bride, Lord Thomas," she said,
"Is this that wonderful Brown?"
" You once could have married the fairest lady
That ever came through this town."
The Brown girl had a little pen knife,
The blade was keen and sharp,
Between the long ribs and the short
She pierced Fair Ellen's heart.
He took the Brown girl by the hand,
He led her across the hall,
He cut her head off with his sword,
And kicked it against the wall.
He turned his handle toward the wall
The blade toward his breast,
This is the end of these young loves,
Lord, send their souls to rest!
"[O father,] Go dig my grave [1]
[Dig it] both wide and deep,
Lay pretty Fair Ellen in my arms,
And lay the Brown girl at my feet."
1. I've added to and restructured the last stanza which is corrupt and appears thus:
Go dig my grave both wide and deep,
Lay pretty Fair Ellen in my arms,
And lay the Brown girl
At my feet."