The Brown Girl

Cat. #0208 (MFH #40) - As sung by Mrs. Laura McDonald, Springdale, Arkansas on July 23, 1958

VERSE 1
Come riddle to me, dear Mother
Come say to me your mind
Whether I should marry Fair Eleandor
Or bring th brown girl home

VERSE 2
Th brown girl, she has house and land
Fair Eleandor, she has none
Before I charge you with my blessing
Go bring th brown girl home

VERSE 3
He dressed himself all over in black
His waiting man all in green
And every town as he went thru
He was taken to be some king

VERSE 4
He rode till he came to Fair Eleandors place
Rightly proudly at th ring
None were so ready as Fair Elean, herself
To arise and let him in

VERSE 5
What news, what news, Lord Thomas, she said,
What news have you brought to me
I've come to ask you to my wedding
It's very good news, said he

VERSE 6
Bad news, bad news, Lord Thomas, she said,
Bad news you've brought to me
Cause, I been in hopes of being your bride
And you bridegroom to me

VERSE 7
Come riddle to me, dear Mother
Come say to me your mind
Whether I shall go t' Lord Thomas's wedding
Or whether I'll stay at home

VERSE 8
My daughter, you know you have friends, she said,
You know that you have foes
Before I charge you, my own dear daughter
You'd better stay at home

VERSE 9
I do not care for my friends, she said
I do not care for my foes
Betide my life, betide my death
Lord Thomas's wedding I'll go

VERSE 10
She dressed herself all over in white
Her waiting maid all in green
An' every town that she rode thru
She was taken to be some queen

VERSE 11
She rode till she came to Lord Thomas's house
Rightly proudly at th ring
None were so ready as Lord Thomas, himself
To arise and let her in

VERSE 12
He took her by her lily white hand
And led her all thru th hall
And there he placed a golden chair
Among the ladies all

VERSE 13
Lord Thomas, Lord Thomas, is this your bride
She looks most wonderful brown
When you once could'a married as fair a lady
As ever th sun shone on

VERSE 14
Th brown girl having a little pen knife
It being both keen and sharp
Between th long and down th short
She pierced Fair Eleandor's heart

VERSE 15
Whats'a matter, whats'a matter, Lord Thomas did say
You look most wonderful pale
When you once did bare as fair a color
As ever th sun shone on

VERSE 16
Lord Thomas, Lord Thomas, are you blind
Or can't you very well see
I think I feel my own hearts blood
Come tricklin' down my knee

VERSE 17
Lord Thomas having a glittering sword
It being both keen and tall
And he cut off his own brides head
And slammed it against th wall

VERSE 18
He placed th hinge all on th floor
Th point toward his breast
Saying, here's three true loves goin' to fall
Lord, send their soul to rest

Variants