Fair Ellender- McCord (MO) 1939 Owens
[From Owens; Texas Folk Songs, 1950; also Bronson TTCB, II, 1962.
R. Matteson 2014]
10. "Fair Ellender" Owens 1950, p.39. Learned from his mother(Bronson); traditional in father's family, and probably from Tennessee or Indiana.
1. Lord Thomas he was a gay gentleman,
The lord of many a belle;
Fair Ellender was a fair young girl,
Lord Thomas he loved her well,
Lord Thomas he loved her well.
2. "Oh, father, oh, mother, come riddle to me,
I ask you both as one,
Oh, must I marry Fair Ellender,
Or bring the brown girl home?
Or bring the brown girl home?"
3. "The brown girl she has houses and lands,
Fair Ellender she has none,
Oh, son, we advise you as a great blessing
To bring the brown girl home
To bring the brown girl home."
4. He dressed himself in satin white,
His waiters all dressed in green,
And every town he rode through
They took him to be some king,
They took him to be some king.
5. He rode till he came to Fair Ellender's door,
He tingled at the ring,
And none so ready as she herself
To rise and 'bid him come in.
To rise and bid him come in.
6. "What news, what news, Lord Thomas," she cried,
"What news do you bring to me?"
"I've come to bid you to my wedding,
The brown girl my bride to be,
The brown girl my bride to be."
7. "Sad news, sad news, Lord Thomas," she cried,
"Sad news do you bring to me.
For I had hoped to be your bride
And you bridegroom to me,
And you bridegroom to me."
8 "Oh father, oh, mother, come riddle to me,
I ask you both as one,
Oh must I go to Lord Thomas' wedding
Or tarry with you at home?
Or tarry with you at home?
9. "For many there, be who be my friends,
And many who be my foes,
But I will risk my fortune and life
And to Lord Thomas' wedding, I will go,
And to Lord Thomas' wedding, I will go.
10. She dressed herself in satin white,
Her ladies all dressed in green,
And every town that they rode through
They took her to be some queen,
They took her to be some queen.
11. She rode till she came to Lord Thomas' hall,
She tingled at the ring,
And none so ready as he himself
To rise and bid her come in,
To rise and bid her come in.
12. He took her by the lily-white hand,
He led her down the hall,
And seated her at the table's head
Among the ladies all,
Among the ladies all.
13. "Is this your bride, Lord Thomas?" she cried,
"She is a most wonderful brown,
When you could have had the fairest lady
That ever the sun shone on,
That ever the sun shone on."
14. "Throw none of your slurs," Lord Thomas he cried,
"Throw none of your slurs at me'
For I love the tip of your finger more
Than the brown girl's whole body,
Than the brown girl's whole body."
15. The brown girl had a little penknife
With blade both keen and sharp;
Between the short ribs and the long
She pierced Fair Ellender's heart,
She pierced Fair Ellender's heart.
16. "Oh, what is the 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."
17. "Oh, are you blind, Lord Thomas?" she cried,
"Or is it you cannot see,
That I can feel my whole heart's blood
Come trickling to my knee?
Come trickling to my knee?"
18. He took the brown girl by the hand,
He led her down the hall,
And with his sword cut off her head
And kicked it against the wall,
And kicked it against the wall.
19. He pointed the handle to the sun,
The blade unto his breast,
Saying, "Here's the death of two fond lovers,
God send our souls to rest,
God send our souls to rest.
20. "Go dig my grave 'neath yonder green tree,
Go dig it both wide and deep,
And place Fair Ellender in-my arms
And the brown girl at my feet,
And the brown girl at my feet."