Nancy Bell & Lord Lover- Topper (OH) Eddy F
[From: Ballads and Songs from Ohio; Eddy, 1939. Her notes follow.
R. Matteson 2015]
LORD LOVEL
(Child, No.75)
Versions of "Lord Lovel" are numerous in Ohio. I am omitting here a number which differ from the above chiefly in the names of the church mentioned in the song, as, St. Patrick's, St. Varnie's, St. Banker's, and the like.
F. NANCY BELL AND LORD LOVER- From Mrs. S. T. Topper, Ashland, Ohio.
1. Lord Lover was down at his old castle gate,
And he came in a mellow quite steep; (for"milk-white steed")
And along came Lady Nancy Bell
A-wishing her lover good speed.
2. "Oh, where are you going, Lord Lover," said she,
"Oh, where are You going," said she;
"I am going away, Lord Lady," he said,
"Strange countries for to see."
3. "Oh, when will you be back, Lord Lover," said she,
"Oh, when will You be back," said she;
"In a year or two or three at the most,
I'll return to my Lady Nancy."
4. He had not been gone but a year or two
Strange countries for to see,
Some wondrous thought came into his mind;
"Lady Nancy Bell I'll go see."
5. He rode and he rode on a milk-white steed,
Till he came to London town'
And there he heard the church bells ring,
And the people all mourning around'
6. "Oh, what is the matter," Lord Lover said he,
"Oh, what is the matter?" said he;
"Lord's Lady is dead," the people have said,
"Some call her Lady Nancy."
7. He ordered the grave to be opened wide'
That he could look upon,
And there he kissed her cold clay cheeks
Till the tears came trickling down.
8. Lord's lover she died as it might be today,
Lord Lover he died tomorrow;
Lord's lover she died with pure, pure grief,
Lord Lover he died with sorrow.
9. Lord's lover was buried in the Saint Patrick church,
Lord Lover was buried in the choir,
And out of her grave there grew a red rose,
And out of her lover's a brier.
10. They wound and they twined to a true lovers' knot
For all true lovers to admire;
They grew and they grew to the church steeple top,
Till they could grow no higher.