Brown Girl

Cat. #0547 (MFH #40) - As sung by May Kennedy McCord, Springfield, Missouri on October 21, 1960

VERSE 1
Lord Thomas, he was a gay gentlemen
Lord of many a bell
Fair Ellender, was a fair young lady
Lord Thomas, he lover her well
Lord Thomas, he lover 'er well

VERSE 2
O, Mother, O, Father, come riddle to me
I ask you both as one
O, must I marry fair Ellender
Or bring th brown girl home
Or bring th brown girl home

VERSE 3
Th brown girl, she has house an' land
Fair Ellender, she has none
O, Son, we advise you an' give you great blessing
To bring th brown girl home
To bring th brown girl home

VERSE 4
He dressed himself in scarlet robes
His waiters all dressed in green
An' 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 t' fair Ellenors door
He tingled at th ring
An' none so ready as she, herself
T' rise an' let 'im in
T' rise an' let 'im in

VERSE 6
What is th sum, Lord Thomas, she cried
What news do you bring to me,
I come to bid you to my wedding
The brown girl my bride, to be
Th 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
An' you a bridegroom to me
An' 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
An' many there be your foes
An' we would advise 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
An' many there who be my foes
But I will risk my fortune an' life
To Lord Thomas's wedding, I'll go
To Lord Thomas's wedding I'll go

VERSE 11
She dressed herself in satin white
Her ladies all dressed in green
And every town that she rode through
They took her to be some queen
They took her to be some queen

VERSE 12
She rode till she came to Lord Thomas's hall
She tingled at th ring
An' none were so ready as Lord Thomas, himself
To rise and bid her come in
To rise and bid her come in

VERSE 13
He took her by th lily white hand
He led her down the hall
An' seated 'er at th banquet head
Among th ladies all
Among th ladies all

VERSE 14
Where is your bride, Lord Thomas, she cried
She is th most wonderful brown
When you could've married th fairest girl
That ever th sun shone on
That ever th sun shone on

VERSE 15
Throw none of your slurs, Lord Thomas, she said
Throw none of your slurs at me
For I love th tip of your finger more
Than th brown girls whole body
Th brown girls whole body

VERSE 16
Th brown girl had a little pen knife
With blade both keen an' sharp
Between th short ribs an' th long
She pierced fair Ellenders heart
She pierced fair Ellenders heart

VERSE 17
O, what's th matter, fair Ellen, he cried
What makes you look so pale
You used to have as rosy cheeks
As anyone in our dale
As anyone in our dale

VERSE 18
O, are you blind, Lord Thomas, she cried
Or maybe you cannot see
But I can feel my own hearts blood
Come trickling to my knee
Come trickling to my knee

VERSE 19
He took th brown girl by th hand
He led her down th hall
An' with his sword cut off her head
An' kicked it against th wall
An' kicked it against th wall

VERSE 20
Pointed th handle to th sun
Th blade unto his breast
Saying, here's th 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 an' deep
An' put fair Ellender in my arms
An' th brown girl at my feet
An' th brown girl at my feet

Variants