Lord Thomas- Campbell (TN) 1917 Sharp MS
[My title, with music. From Bronson TTCB, II, 1962. Sharp MS 3584/2646.
R. Matteson 2014]
9. Lord Thomas and Fair Ellender- Sung by Luther Campbell, Mt. Smokeyhead[?], Sevier County, Tenn., April 20, 1917
1. Come near, come near me now, dear mother,
And tell me what to do.
It's must I marry fair Ellender dear,
Or bring the brown girl home,
Or bring the brown girl home.
2. The brown girl she has house and land,
Fair Ellender she has none,
And for your own dear sake, my boy.
Go bring the brown girl home. [repeat last line]
3. He mounted on his milk-white beast,
He rode through valley in speed,
He rode till he come to fair Ellender's dwelling,
He called her his own true love.
4. He threw his arms around her neck
And kissed her a farewell kiss
Saying: I have come to ask you
To dine ar my wedding.
5. Come near, come near me now, dear mother,
And tell me what to do.
It's must I go to Lord Thomas's wedding,
Or stay and tarry at home?
6. It's some may be your friends, dear daughter,
And some may be your foes,
But if it's tarry life-or death,
I'd rather you'd stay at home.
7. It's some may be my friends, dear mother,
And some may be my foe,
But if it's tarry life oi death,
To Lord Thomas's wedding I'll go.
8. She dressed herself in lily-white,
Around her waist in green,
And every town that she rode through
They taken her to be some queen.
9. She rode till she come to Lord Thomas's dwelling,
She wrung the bell for in;
No one was there but Lord Thomas himself
To rise and lead her in.
10. He took her by the lily-white hand,
He led her through the hall
And set her down at the head of the table
Among the ladies all.
11. Is this your bride, Lord Thomas, said she,
I think she looks wonderfully brown.
You might have had as fair a true love,
As ever the sun shone on.
12. The brown girl she had a little penknife,
The blade both keen and sharp.
She pierced it through fair Ellender's side
And quickly touched her heart.
13. Lord Thomas he had a big butcher knife,
The blade was keen and fine.
He cut the brown girl's head off on the floor
And kicked it against the wall.
14. Go dig my grave both wide and deep,
And paint my coffin black,
And place fair Ellender in my arms
And the brown girl at my back.
15. They dug his grave both wide and deep
And painted his coffin black,
And placed fair Ellender in his arms
And the brown girl at his back.