The Brown Girl- Alice Hicks (NC) c1933 Abrams
[From MS in the Abrams collection; partially given in The Brown Collection of NC Folklore; Vol. 2 1952. Cf. Jane Hicks Gentry's version.
This excellent version is one of the very rare versions with the "rose and briar" ending. I've taken the liberty to correct a few spelling and grammatical errors- most are footnoted. In measure 6 to rhyme last line, it would need to be something like: "To Lord Thomas' wedding, don't go."
R. Matteson 2014]
The Brown Girl- Obtained from Alice Hicks Rominger, NC Dec. 18, 1933.
1. "The brown girl has both house and land,
And fair Ellar she has none,
Therefore, a blessing, my own dear son,
If you bring me the Brown girl home--
Oh, bring me the Brown girl home."
2. Lord Thomas dressed his playmates[1] all in green,
Himself he dressed in white,
And every town that he rode through,
They took him to be some lord-knight.
3. He rode till he came to fair Ellar's gate,
He gongle[2] at the ring,
There was none as ready as Fair Ellar was,
To rise and let him come in.
4. "What news, what news Lord Thomas?
Have you brought no news to me?"
"No news at all, Fair Ellar,
But I ask you to my wedding."
5. "Bad news, bad news,
You have brought to me," said Fair Ellar,
"For I was expecting to be the bride myself,
And you the great bridegroom."
6. "Oh mother, oh mother,
Come, will me your desire
To go to Lord Thomas' wedding,
Or stay at home with you?"
7. "Many of your friends will be there,
And many more of your foes,
Therefore, a blessing, O do you my child,
If you stay at home with me."
8. "Be me dead or be me alive,
To Lord Thomas' wedding I'll go."
9. She dressed her playmates all in white,
Herself (dressed) in green,
And every town that she rode through,
They took her to be some queen.
10. She rode till he came to Lord Thomas gate,
She gongle at the ring,
There was none as ready as Lord Thomas was,
To rise and let her come in.
11. "(Is) this you bride, Lord Thomas?" she said,
"I think she (is) wonderful brown,
You could have has as fair (a) lady,
As ever the sun shined on."
12. "Oh hold your tongue, fair Ellar," he said
"And throw my faults on me.
For I love the end of your little finger,
Better than the brown girl's whole body."
13. He took her by the lily-white hand
He led her through chambers three;
He led her to his own bedside,
And then he sat down by she.
14. The brown girl had a little pen[3] knife,
Made both keen and sharp,
She gave fair Ellar a deadly blow,
And pierced he to the heart.
15. What's the matter fair Ellar?" Lord Thomas he said,
"You used to look as red as a rose,
But now your color is pale?"[4]
16. "Are you blind Lord Thomas?" she said,
Or can't you plainly[5] see?
Can't you see my heart's blood,
Come trinkling down my knee?"
17. "I'm not blind," Lord Thomas he said,
I can plainly see,
You own heart's blood,
Come trinkling down your knee?"
18 Lord Thomas he has a three-edged sword[6],
Was brazed with metal so free,
He cut off the brown girl's head,
And stove it against a tree.
19. And stove it against a grave,
A grave all to be dug.
"Go dig it both deep and wide,
And lay fair Ellar in my arms,
And the brown girl at me feet."
20. Out of Lord Thomas' foot grew a briar,
And out of fair Ellar's breast grew a rose,
They grew as high as the old church top,
And there they fairly tied in a truly love knot.[7]
1. Similar to Jane Hicks Genrty's version (also her daughter Maud Long)- I believe this is a perversion of merry maids.
2. tingle
3. pin
4. original has "fail"
5. original has "plenty" both times
6. I'd like to see that sword!!
7. true lover's knot.