Three Lovers- Greynolds (WV) 1958 Bush II
[From: Folk Songs of Central West Virginia; Bush, Vol. 2, 1971.
The whole first part of the ballad is missing.
R. Matteson 2014]
The Three Lovers- Sung by Mr. A.P. Greynolds of Glenville, WV, at the 1958 West Virginia Folk Festival.
"O Mother, O Mother, come read my wills,
Come read them o'er to me.
Whether I go to Lord Thomas' wedding
Or whether I tarry at home,
Whether I go to Lord Thomas' wedding
Or whether I tarry at home.
"O Daughter, O Daughter, I read your wills,
I read them all as one.
You may have friends, and you may have none,
To Lord Thomas' wedding don't go."
She dressed herself in scarlet red,
And her hair was trimmed in green;
And every city that she passed through,
They took her to be some queen.
And every city that she passed through,
They took her to be some queen.
She rode till she come to Lord Thomas' gate,
And loud did she tinqle her rings.
And none so ready to let her in
Than Lord Thomas himself.
He took her by her lily-while hand,
And led her through the hall:
And seated her of the end of the table
Among the fair ladies all.
"Lord Thomas, Lord Thomas, is this your wife?
I think she's mighty brown
Where you could had me as fair a lady,
As ever the sun shined on.
Where you could had me, as fair a lady,
As ever was seen in town."
The Brown Girl, she hod a very large knife,
And it was keen and sharp.
5he pierced it through fair Ellender's side,
And it entered into her heart.
"Lord Thomas, Lord Thomas, are you not blind
Or con you not see?
For don't you see my own heart's blood
Come trinkling down my knee?
For don't you see my own heart's blood
Come trinkling down my knee?
He took the Brown Girl by the hand,
And led her through the hall;
And with a sharp sword, he cut her head off,
And threw it against the wall.
He placed the handle against the wall,
And the point up to his breast.
Saying, "Here's the end of three lovers,
Lord, put our souls to rest."
"O father, O father, go dig our grave,
Go dig it wide and deep.
And put fair Ellender in my arms,
And the brown girl at my feet."