Cat. #0898 (MFH #40) - As sung by Jimmy (Driftwood) Morris, Timbo, Arkansas on August 30, 1969
VERSE 1
O Mother, O Mother, come riddle to me
Come riddle to me alone
Shall I be married t' fair Annalee
Or bring th grown girl ho-o-om
Or bring th brown girl home
VERSE 2
Th brown girl she has horses and lands
Fair Annalee she hath none
Th Mother replied, if I may decide
Go bring th brown girl ho-o-om
Go bring th brown girl home
VERSE 3
He mounted upon to his shinning black steed
An' rode to fair Annalee's glen
An' there was no lady more ready than she
To arise an' welcome him in-n-n
To arise an' welcome him in
VERSE 4
What news, what news, Lord Thomas, she cried
Sad news, sad news, cried he
I've come to invite you to my wedding feast
O Lord, have mercy o me-e-e
O Lord, have mercy on me
VERSE 5
He took her in at his Mother's front door
An' down th hall so wide
An' he set her down at th head of them all
Close by th browngirl's si-i-de
Close by th brown girl's side
VERSE 6
Th brown girl took out'a dagger of bone
It's edge was keen an' sharp
She pierced it thru fair Analee's clothes
An' stabbed into her hear-hear-rt
An' stabbed into her heart
VERSE 7
Lord Thomas, Lord Thomas, fair Annalee cried
Lord Thomas, Lord Thomas, cried she
My Lord cain't you see th red blood of my heart
A trickling all out of me-e-e
A trickling all out of me
VERSE 8
He took th brown girl by her long yellow hair
An' dragged 'er away to th door
He took out his knife an' he cut off her head
An' it rolled all over th floo-o-or
It rolled all over th floor
VERSE 9
He put his sword against his own breast
And leaned up a against th wall
Said, this is th last of thru lovers lives
And I am th last of them al-a-al
And I am th last of them all
VERSE 10
O Mother, O Mother, go dig me a grave
Both long and wide an' deep
Bury my fair Annalee in my arms
An' th brown girl under my fe-e-et
An' th brown girl under my feet
VERSE 11
Three apple trees sprang from Lord Thomas's grave
An' those who taste them repeat,
That one of th three was a crabapple-tree
An' the other two so swe-e-et
The other two were so sweet