The Brown Girl- Swetnam (MS) pre1936 Hudson C
[Fragment from Folksong of Mississippi; Hudson, 1936, version C. His notes follow. This is older than 1936.
R. Matteson 2014]
C. "The Brown Girl." Communicated to Mr. George F. Swetnam, University, by his mother, Mrs. F. S. Swetnam, "who learned it from one Bird Smith, of Beechy, Kentucky."
1 "Come lean to me, mother, come lean to me."
. . . .
. . . .
. . . .
2 "The brown girl she has house and lands,
Fair Ellender she has none;
I've always to you been your best friend:
Go bring the brown girl home."
3 He rode up to fair Ellender's gate,
And jingled on the ring;
And none so ready as fair Ellender
To come and welcome him in.
4 "What news, what news, Lord Thomas?" says she,
"What news have you brung to me?"
"I've come to invite you to my weddin',"
"Bad news, bad news," says she.
5 She dressed herself in scarlet red,
Her horse in scarlet green.
And every town that she rode through
They took her to be some queen.
6 "Is this your bride, Lord Thomas?" says she,
"Is this your bride, so brown?
When you might have married as fair a lady
As ever the sun shined on."
7 The brown girl drew her little pen knife,
It was both keen and sharp;
. . . .
She pierced fair Ellender's heart.
8 He took the brown girl by the hand,
And led her to the hall.
He drew his sword, cut off her head,
And kicked it agin the wall.
9 . . . .
. . .
. . .
"Adieu, adieu, to my true love."
10 "Go dig my grave both long and wide,
Go dig it wide and deep,
And bury fair Ellender by my side,
The brown girl at my feet."
Replica Jewelry Collections come in every style—classic, boho, minimalistic, or bold. Find your perfect match and redefine your style!