In Search of Silver and Gold- Hamilton (NY) 1928 Cazden

In Search of Silver and Gold- Hamilton (NY) 1928 Cazden

[From Folk Songs of the Catskills - Volume 1; Page 136; by Norman Cazden, ‎Herbert Haufrecht, ‎Norman Studer - 1982. Their notes follow.

This is evidently a composed version (revised and improved by George K. Hamilton) and is not traditional.

R. Matteson 2014]


Evidently Hamilton had long known the common form of the ballad of Lord Lovell, for it had been spread during the mid-nineteenth century by many printed songsters, and by copies containing the music, while it was surely also familiar as a theater piece. But Hamilton did not like the tragic ending of the ballad.

In Search of Silver and Gold

1    Lord Lovell stood at his Castle gate,
A-combing his milk-white steed,
When up stepp'd Lady Nancy Bell,
To wish her lover good speed, and goodbye,
To wish her lover good speed.

2    O, where are you going, Lord Lovell? she said,
Oh where are you going? said she;
'I'm going, my Lady Nancy Belle,
Strange countries for to see, see, see,
Strange countries for to see.

3    When will you be back, Lord Lovell? she said,
When will you be back? said she;
A year or two, or three, at most,
I'll return to my fair Nancy, see see,
I'll return to my fair Nancy.

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