The Brown Girl- Lambert (AL) 1945 Arnold
[From An Alabama Songbook; Arnold, 1950, p. 108. Also Bronson TTCB, No. 82.
R. Matteson 2014]
"The Brown Girl" - Sung by Corie Lambert, Mobile, Ala., 1945. Learned from her maternal grandmother.
1. It's a riddle, it's a riddle, oh my dear mother,
To make us both as one
Say shall I marry Fair Ellen,
Or bring the brown girl home,
Or bring the brown girl home.
2. The brown girl has a house and land,
Fair Ellen she has none.
I'll ask it all to you as a blessing
To bring the brown girl home,
To bring the brown girl home.
3. He rode till he reached fair Ellen's door,
A knot pulled down the ring,
And none were so ready as fair Ellen herself
For to rise and let him come in,
For to rise and let him come in.
4. "Oh what is the matter, Lord Thomas," said she
"Oh what is the matter with thee?"
"I've come to ask you to my wedding."
"Oh, that is bad news for me,
Oh, that is bad news for me."
5. "It's a riddle, it's a riddle, oh my dear mother,
To make us both as one:
Say, shall I go to Lord Thomas' wedding
Or tarry at home alone,
Or tarry at home alone."
6. "Oh, tarry, oh tarry, oh my dear daughter
Oh tarry at home alone,
For if you go to Lord Thomas' wedding
It's killed you're sure to',be,
It's killed you're sure to be."
7. She dressed herself in scarlet red;
The rest were dressed in green,
And as she rode along the street,
She was taken for to be some queen,
She was taken for to be some queen.
8. She rode till she reached Lord Thomas' door,
The knot pulled down the ring,
And none was so ready as Lord Thomas himself
For to rise and let her come in,
For to rise and let her come in.
9. He took her by her lily white hand
And led her through the hall
And sat her down at the end of the table
Among the merry men,
Among the merry men.
10. "If this is your bride, Lord Thomas," says she,
"I am sure she is very brown,
When you could have married as fair a lady
As ever the sun shined on,
As ever the sun shined on."
11. The brown girl had a little pen knife,
The point was keen and sharp.
Between the long ribs and the short
She pierced fair Ellen's heart,
She pierced fair Ellen's heart.
12. "Oh what is the matter?" Lord Thomas said,
"Oh what is the matter with thee?
To see my own true love's heart blood
Come trickling down by me,
Come trickling down by me."
13. He took the brown girl by the hand
And led her through the hall,
Drew out his sword, cut off her head,
And kicked it against the wall,
And kicked it against the wall.
14. "Oh father, oh father, go dig my grave,
Go dig it long and deep,
And bury the sharp sword at my side,
The pen knife at my feet,
The pen knife at my feet."
15. "Oh brother, oh brother, go make my coffin
And make it long and wide,
And bury fair Ellen in my arms,
And the brown girl by my side,
And the brown girl by my side."
16. He placed the sharp sword on the floor,
His back upon it lay.
He pierced the pen knife in his breast,
"Here comes three lovers all at once ;
Lord, send our souls to rest."