Lord Thomas- Freeman (Ark.) 1941 Randolph J
[From Vance Randolph's Ozark Folksongs, Vol. 1 Ballads; 1946.
R. Matteson 2012, 2014]
Lord Thomas- Sung by Mrs. Dorothy Freeman, Natural Dam, Arkansas, Dec 14, 1941. Randolph J
Oh mother, oh mother, go riddle this course,
Go riddle it all in one
That I may go and marry fair Ellen
Or bring the brown girl home.
I've already riddled this course, she said,
I've riddled it all in one,
But I'll be secret with every blessing,
Go bring the brown girl home.
Go saddle me up my little gray steed
And bring it unto me,
That I may go and marry fair Ellen
Or bring the brown girl home.
He rode and he rode to the head of the hail,
He knocked most clatters could ring,
But none was so willing as fair Ellen
To arise and let him in.
Lord Thomas, Lord Thomas, Lord Thomas, she said,
What news have you brought to me?
I've come to invite, to invite you,
To invite you to my wedding.
Oh mother, oh mother, come riddle this course,
Come riddle it all in one,
That I may go to Lord Thomas's wedding
Ruther'n to tarry at home.
I've already riddled this course, she said,
I've riddled it all in one,
My daughter shall not go to Lord Thomas's wedding,
But she shall tarry at home.
I'll venture my life, I'll venture my death,
I'll venture anything may come,
But I am going to Lord Thomas's wedding
Ruther'n to tarry at home.
She dressed herself in roses red
And the wedding girl all in green,
And every city that they passed through
They was taken to be some queen.
They rode and they rode to the head of the hall,
They knocked most clatters could ring,
But none was so willing as Lord Thomas
To arise and let them in.
He took her by her little white hand
And led her across the hail,
And seated her down at the end of the table
Among the ladies all.
Lord Thomas, Lord Thomas, Lord Thomas, she said,
Your bride looks wonderful brown,
When you could have married the fairest skin lady
That ever the sun shined on.
The brown girl had a little white knife,
The point it was wonderful sharp,
When she saw no one was enviewing her
She pierced fair Ellen's heart.
Lord Thomas, Lord Thomas, Lord Thomas, she said,
Are you blind? Why caint you see,
Why caint you see my own heart's blood
Is a-flowing away from me?
He took the brown girl by the hand
And led her across the hail,
And with a sword he cut her head off
And dashed it against the wall.
He swung the sword down toward the earth
And then back toward his breast,
And said here is the end of three lovers,
Lord send our souls to rest.
Oh father, oh father, go dig our grave,
Go dig it wide and deep,
And place fair Ellen all in my arms
And the brown girl at my feet.