The Brown Girl- Sargent (AR) 1960 Whittier/Parler
[From Ozark Folksong Collection- Reel 303 Item 10. Raymond W. Whittier for Mary Celestia Parler.
R. Matteson 2014]
The Brown Girl- Sung by Irene Sargent West Fork, Ark. Dec. 3, 1960
Come riddle me down in your mind, dear mother,
Come riddle me down in your mind,
It's must I bring the brown girl home
And leave fair Ellen alone?
It's aunt I bring the brown girl home
And leave fair Ellen alone?
If I must riddle you down in my mind,
The brown girl you go bring.
The brown girl has both house and land;
Fair Ellen she has none.
The brown girl has both house and land;
Fair Ellen she has none.
He dressed himself up so neat,
The dressing was all in white.
And every town that he passed through,
He was taken to be some knight.
And every town that he passed through,
He was taken to be some knight.
He rode till he came to fair Ellen's house,
And jingled at the door.
No one was as willing but fair Ellen herself
To rise and let him come in.
No one was so willing but fair Ellen herself
To rise and let him come in.
Oh, what's your news? fair Ellen she said,
Sad news, bad news, said he.
I've come to ask you to my wedding.
Tomorrow is the day.
I’ve come to ask you to my wedding,
Tomorrow is the day.
Come riddle me down in your mind, dear mother,
Come riddle me down in your mind.
It’s must I go to Lord Thomas's wedding
Or stay at home alone?
It's must I go to Lord Thomas's wedding
Or stay at home alone?
If I must riddle you down in my mind,
Lord Thomas's wedding don't go.
A thousands of friends you may have there,
But a thousand may be your foe.
A thousand of friends you may have there,
But a thousand may be your foe.
She dressed herself up so neat,
The dressing was all in green.
And every town that she passed through,
She was taken to be some queen.
And every town that she passed through,
She was taken to be some queen.
She rode till she came to Lord Thomas's house,
Then jingled at the door.
No one was as willing but Lord Thomas himself
To rise and let him come in.
No one was as willing but Lord Thomas himself
To rise and let her come in.
Is this your wife? fair Ellen then said,
I'm sure the is very brown.
You once could have married as fair lady
As ever the sun shone on.
You once could have married as fair
lady As ever the sun shone on.
The brown girl had a little pen knife
It was so narrow end keen.
She stabbed it through fair Ellen's heart,
And the blood came trinkling down.
She stabbed it through fair Ellen's heart,
And the blood came trinkling down.