Lord Vanover- Smith (OH) pre1939 Eddy
[My date, the source died in 1929, so it's probably much earlier since he was born circa 1850. From Ballads and Song from Ohio, Eddy, 1939. Her notes follow.
R. Matteson 2012, 2015]
Mr. John E. Smith sang this song so often in his younger days that his wife and daughters were able to recall the above stanzas and tune. They do not know where he learned it. Mr. smith was born at Chippewa Lake, Ohio, and lived his entire life in the neighborhood of Richville and Massillon, Ohio. He died in 1929 at the age of 79. Mrs. Smith tells me her husband was fond of singing, and was in the habit of accompanying himself on his accordion. In fact, he wore out two.
Other Texts Barry, p. 50. The first text called "Lord Banner's wife," gives a new form of the word "redemption" in:
"Lord Banner has gone to Indemption
To get an emerald throne."
Lord Vanover- From Mrs. John E. Smith and her daughters, Mrs. Lillian Manderbaugh and Mrs- Lydia Lormer, all of Canton, Ohio, and a third daughter, Mrs. Margaret Haidet of Akron, Ohio.
1. The first that came in was scarlet red
The second was violet blue.
And the third that came in was Lord Vanover's wife;
The fairest of the few.
2. She cast her eyes upon young man Grove,
Bright shining as the sun;
She looked at him and he looked at her,
The like was never seen.
3. . . .
. . . .
"Oh, young man, would you be pleased, sir,
To go home with me tonight?"
4. "Oh, that I dare not do,
I dare not for my life,
For I can see by the rings that you wear
That you're Lord Vanover's wife."
5. "Well, what if I am Lord Vanover's wife,
Lord Vanover's not at home,
Lord Vanover's to the redemption gone,
King Henry for to see."
6. There was a young man a-standing by,
A-hearing of this;
. . . .
. . . .
7. So he took to his heels and he ran and he ran
Till he came to the water's side;
He leaped therein, and he swam and he swam
Till he came to the other side.
8. And he took to his heels and he ran and he ran,
Till he came to King Henry's gate;
9. . . . .
And he blew so loud and shrill,
No one was so ready to open the gate
As Lord Vanover was himself.
10. "What news, what news have you brought to me?
What news have you brought to me?
Is there any of my walls or castles torn down,
Or any of my men false be?" (or, Or any of them avengedl)
11. "There's none of your walls or castles torn down,
Nor any of them avenged,
But young man Grove is in bed with your wife
This night in fair Scotland."
12. . . .
"Oh, no, that cannot be,
For I have one of the very best wives,
And she loves none other but me.
13. "If this be a lie you're telling me,
As I suppose it to be,
I'll build a gallows in fair Scotland,
And hang-ed you shall be.
14. "If this be a lie I'm telling to you,
As you suppose it to be,
You need not build a gallows for me,
Just hang me on a tree."
15. "If this be the truth you're telling to me,
As now I suppose it to be,
I have only one daughter only,
And I'll wed her to thee."
16. Then he called to his merry men all,
One, two, and three;
"Let us two for Scotland go
This young couple for to see."
17. . . .
. . .
. . .
And he blew so loud and shrill.
18. "Hark, hark, my dear, oh, what is that?"
. . . .
"Oh, that is nothing but the shepherd boy
A-calling his sheep from the yard."
19. "Oh, how do you like my bed, sir,
Oh, how do you like my sheep,
And how do you like my fairy queen
That lies in your arms asleep."
2e.. "Oh, very well your bed, sir,
And very well your sheep,
But best of all your fairy queen
That lies in my arms a-sleep."
2r. "Get up, get up," Lord Vanover said,
"And put your clothing on-
For I will nor have it said in fair Scotland
I killed a naked man.
22. "And you may strike the very first blow,
And strike it like a man,
And I will strike the very next blow
And kill you if I can.
23. "Get up, get up," Lord Vanover said,
"And down upon your knee,
And tell me which you love the best,
This young man Grove or me."
24. . . .
. . . .
Then he took a sword from his side,
And pierced her fair bodee.
25. "I've killed as fair a lady
As ever the sun shone on,
Likewise as brave a man
As ever Scotland bore.
26. "Oh, cursed be ye merry men all,
Who now around me stand,
And saw me in such an angry blood,
And ne'er did stay my hand."