The Brown Girl- Long (MS) c. 1923 Hudson A
[Bronson's date. From Hudson: Folksongs of Mississippi; 1937 no. 13. Also Bronson No. 93. Obviously Rillinder is a mondegreen for Ellender. This ballad may be very old dating back though family to the 1700s.
R. Matteson 2014]
"The Brown Girl." Sung by Mrs. Theodosia B. Long and Miss Ila Long, between 1923 and 1930.
1. "Come riddle, come riddle, my old mother dear,
Come riddle us both as one:
Whether I shall marry fair Rillinder,
Or bring the brown girl home."
2. "The brown girl she has houses and land,
Fair Rillinder she has none,
If I'm to make the choice myself,
I'll say, bring the brown girl home."
3. He dressed himself in robes of red,
His crown so merry and green,
And ev'ry town that he came to,
They tuck him to be the king.
4. He rode till he came to fair Rillinder's gate,
And tingled at the ring,
There was no one but fair Rillinder herself,
To let Lord Thomas in.
5. "What news, what news, Lord Thomas?" she said,
"What news have you brought for me?"
"I've come to bid you to my wedding
And that's the news for thee."
6. "Come riddle, come riddle, my old mother dear,
Come riddle us both as one:
Whether I shall go to Lord Thomases wedding
Or shall I stay at home?"
7. "You know you have but few friends there,
Where are thousands more of all,
And if I'm to make the choice myself,
You'll tarry all day at home."
8. "I know I have but few friends there,
Where arc thousands more of all,
But I must go to Lord Thomases wedding
How can I stay at home?"
9. She dressed herself in robes of red,
Her crown so merry and green,
And ev'ry town that she came to,
They took her to be the queen.
10. She rode till she came to Lord Thomases gate,
And tingled at the ring,
And no one but Lord Thomas himself,
Would let fair Rillinder in.
11. He took her by her lily white hand,
And led her across the hall,
And set her down at the head of the table,
Among the quality all.
12. "Is this your bride, Lord Thomas?" she said,
"l think she's a mighty brown one,
When you could have had as fair a young lady,
As ever the sun shone on."
13. The brown girl had a little pen-knife,
Which lately had been ground,
She pierced it through fair Rillinder's heart,
And the blood came trickling down.
14. He took the brown girl by the hand,
And led her across the hall,
He cut her head off with his sword,
And threw it against the wall.
15. "Go dig my grave both deep and wide,
And paint my coffin black,
And bury fair Rillinder in my arms,
And the brown girl at my back."