Lord Thomas- McClellan (FL) 1950 Morris B
[From Folksongs of Florida by Alton C. Morris; published by the University of Florida Press, 1950, p. 268. This is one of the rare versions that has the water from a well that washes Ellen's hands so white (measures 11 and 12)
R. Matteson 2014]
Lord Thomas- Sung by Mrs. C. S. McClellan, High Springs, Fla. Learned from her mother, who lived near Starke and Lawtey.
1. "Oh Mother, oh Mother, come riddle us two
Come riddle us two in one;
Must I marry fair Ellen, my dear,
Or bring the Brown Girl home?"
2. He dressed himself in a suit of red;
His fair men[1] all in green;
And every town that he passed through,
He was takened to be a king.
3. He rode up to fair Ellen's door,
All jingling in the rings,
And none was so ready as to let him in,
As fair Ellen, his own dear.
4. "Sad news, sad news to you I bring,
Sad news to you I declare;
I come to invite you to my wedding,
Sad news, sad news I declare."
5. "Oh God forbid that ever such news,
That ever such news I should hear,
For I the bride had took it to be,
And you the groom would be."
6. "Oh Mother, oh Mother, come riddle us two,
Come riddle us two in one.
Must I stay here and tarry all night,
Or to Lord Thomas's wedding go?"
7. "So tired of your life, beware of your death,
To Lord Thomas's don't go."
"I'll be tired of my life, beware of my death,
To Lord Thomas's I'll go."
8. She dressed herself in a suit of red,
Her fair maids all in green.
And every town that they passed through,
They took her to be a queen.
9. They rode up to the Brown Girl's door,
All fingling in the rings,
And none so willing to let her in,
As Lord Thomas, her own dear.
10. He took her by her lily-white hand,
He led her in the hall;
He placed her at the head of the table,
Among the merry maids all.
11. The Brown Girl spoke up and said,
Spoke up as if for spite,
Saying, "Where did you get the water, my pretty fair lady,
That washes your hands so white ?"
12. "In father's garden there is a well,
Which flows both wide and deep.
And you may search there till you go blind,
That well you never could end."
13. The Brown Girl she had a penknife
That was both keen and sharp;
She pierced it through the long ribs short,
She pierced it through fair Ellen's heart.
14. “Oh, what is the matter, fair Ellen, my dear?
What makes you look so pale?
You used to be as fair a lady,
As ever the sun shone on."
15. "Oh, don't you see, Lord Thomas," she said,
"What is the matter with me?
My own heart's blood came trickling down,
Came trickling down, you see."
16. Lord Thomas, he had a sword in his hand,
Which was both keen and sharp;
He cut off the head of his own Brown Girl
And kicked it against the wall.
17. He bent his sword all to the floor
He pierced it through his heart,
Well met, well met, three lovers well met,
But sadly did they part.
18. "Go dig my grave both wide and deep,
Through thunders may I sleep;
Go bury fair Ellen at my side,
The Brown Girl at my feet."
1. usually- merry men