The Brown Girl- McCord (Mo.) 1958 Hunter
[From: Max Hunter Folk Song Collection on-line; minor editing of the text. A different version was collected by Randolph (Version I in 1941) of McCord who used the Lord Lovel form then.
R. Matteson 2012, 2014]
The Brown Girl- As sung by May Kennedy McCord, Springfield, Missouri on September 23, 1958;
Listen: http://maxhunter.missouristate.edu/songinformation.aspx?ID=0241
Later recording done in 1960: http://maxhunter.missouristate.edu/songinformation.aspx?ID=0547
VERSE 1
Lord Thomas, he was a gay gentlemen
The Lord of many a belle
Fair Eleandor, was a fair young lady
Lord Thomas, he loved her well
Lord Thomas, he loved her well
VERSE 2
O Mother, O Father, come riddle to me
I ask you both, as one
O, must I marry Fair Eleandor
Or bring the brown girl home
Or bring the brown girl home
VERSE 3
Th brown girl, she has houses and lands
Fair Eleandor, she has none
O son, we advise you as a great blessing
To bring the brown girl home
To bring the brown girl home
VERSE 4
He dressed himself in scarlet robes
His waiters all dressed in green
And every town that he rode through
They took him to be some king
They took him to be some king
VERSE 5
He rode till he came to Fair Eleandor's door
He tingled at the ring
And none so ready, as she herself
To arise and bid 'im come in
To arise and bid 'im come in
VERSE 6
What news, what news, Lord Thomas, she cried
What news do you bring to me
I've come to bid you to my wedding
The brown girl, my bride to be
The brown girl, my bride to be
VERSE 7
Sad news, sad news, Lord Thomas, she cried
Sad news do you bring to me
For I had hoped to be your bride
And you a bridegroom, to me
And you a bridegroom, to me
VERSE 8
O Mother, O Father, come riddle to me
I ask you both, as one
O, must I go to Lord Thomas's wedding
Or tarry with you at home
Or tarry with you at home
VERSE 9
O, many there be who be your friends
And many there be your foes
And we would ask you as a great blessing
To tarry with us at home
To tarry with us at home
VERSE 10
O, many there be who be my friends
And many there be my foes
But, I will risk my fortune and life
And to Lord Thomas wedding, I'll go
To Lord Thomas wedding, I'll go
VERSE 11
She dressed herself, in satin white
Her ladies all dressed in green
An' every town that she rode thru
They took 'er to be some queen
They took 'er to be some queen
VERSE 12
She rode till she came to Lord Thomas's hall
She tingled at the ring
And none so ready, as he himself
To arise and bid 'er come in
To arise and bid 'er come in
VERSE 13
He took her by the lily white hand
And led 'er down the hall
And seated her, at the banquet head
Among the ladies all
Among the ladies all
VERSE 14
Is this your bride, Lord Thomas, she cried
She is a most wonderful brown
When you could've married the fairest lady
That ever the sun shone on
That ever the sun shone on
VERSE 15
Throw none of your slurs, Fair Ellen, he cried
Throw none of your slurs, at me
For I love the tip of your finger
More than the brown girls, whole body
Than the brown girls, whole body
VERSE 16
The brown girl had a little penknife
With blades both keen and sharp
Between the short ribs and the long
She pierced Fair Eleandor's heart
She pierced Fair Eleandor's heart
VERSE 17
O, what is the matter, Fair Ellen, he cried
What makes you look so pale
You used to be so rosy cheeked
As any one in our dale
As any one in our dale
VERSE 18
O, are you blind, Lord Thomas, she cried
Or, maybe you cannot see
That I can feel my own hearts blood
Come trickling to my knees
Come trickling to my knees
VERSE 19
He took the brown girl by the hand
He led her down the hall
And with his sword, cut off her head
And kicked it against the wall
And kicked it against the wall
VERSE 20
He pointed the handle, to the sun
The blade unto his breast
Saying, here's the death of three fond lovers
God, send our souls to rest
God, send our souls to rest
VERSE 21
Go, dig my grave 'neath yonder green tree
Go, dig it both wide and deep
An' place Fair Eleandor in my arms
And the brown girl at my feet
And the brown girl at my feet