Cat. #0278 (MFH #40) - As sung by Mrs. Pearl Brewer, Pocahontas, Arkansas on November 12, 1958
VERSE 1
O Mother, dear Mother, come tell to me
Although I'd like to roam
Whether to marry Fair Eleander now
Or bring th brown girl home, home, home
Or bring th brown girl home
VERSE 2
Th brown girl she has house and land
Fair Eleander, she has none
My advice would be for you
To bring th brown girl home, home, home
To bring th brown girl home
VERSE 3
He rode and he rode, till he came to the gate
He tingled on th ring
And none so ready, as Fair Eleander, herself
For t' rise and let him in, in, in
For t' rise and let him in
VERSE 4
What news, what news have you brought for me
Lord Thomas, said she
I've come to invite you to my wedding
Th very worst news could be, be, be,
Th very worst news could be
VERSE 5
O Mother, dear Mother, come tell to me
Come tell me kind and true
Whether to go to Lord Thomas's wedding
Or tarry at home with you, you, you
Or tarry at home with you
VERSE 6
She dressed herself in scarlet silk
Her weddin' maid of green
And every city she rode thru
They taken her to be some queen, queen, queen
They taken her t' be some queen
VERSE 7
She rode and she rode, till she came to th gate
She tingled on th ring
And none so ready but Lord Thomas, himself
For rise and let her in, in, in
For to rise and let her in
VERSE 8
He taken her by her lily white hand
And led her thru th hall
And set her down by his brides right side
Among th ladies all, all, all
Among th ladies all
VERSE 9
Lord Thomas, is this your wife
That looks so wonderful brown
When you could'a loved th fairest lady
That ever th sun shined on, on, on
That ever th sun shined on
VERSE 10
Th brown girl, she has little pen knife
She keeps both keen an' sharp
Between Fair Eleander's long and short rib
She pierced Fair Eleanders heart, heart, heart,
She pierced Fair Eleanders heart
VERSE 11
He taken'd her by th hand
And led her thru th hall
And with a sword, cut off her head
And pitched it against th wall, wall, wall
And pitched it against th wall
VERSE 12
O Mother, dear Mother, go dig my grave
Go dig it wide and deep
Bury Fair Eleander in my arms
Th brown girl at my feet, feet, feet
Th brown girl at my feet
VERSE 13
With the hanel of the sword against th floor
Th point against his breast
Here is the parting of three true loves
Lord, send their souls to rest, rest, rest
Lord, send their souls to rest