Lord Thomas- McGill (KY) c. 1914 McGill
[No date or specific informant named. From: Folk-songs of the Kentucky Mountains by Josephine McGill; New York; Toronto: Boosey, 1917. Josephine McGill, 1877-1919 was born and lived in Louisville, KY but spend time in NYC studying music. She spent the summers of 1914 and 1915 collecting folk songs and ballads in the Hindman, Knott County region.
At least two other KY texts have the same opening line with "riddle my sport." McGill's notes follow. Jason Richie (Ritchie), a lawyer known as "Uncle Jason" supplied songs for Jean Ritchie.
R. Matteson 2012, 2014]
The present collection was made during the autumn of 1914, in Knott and Letcher Counties, Kentucky, in the heart of the mountain region-many miles from the nearest railroad. Sincere thanks are expressed to all who assisted in the making of the collection, which was suggested by Miss May Stone, head of the Settlement School at Hindman, Knott County, Kentucky. For advice about the literary texts particular indebtedness is felt toward Miss Lucy Furman, (author of Mothering on Perilous) whose long residence in the mountains makes her opinion one to be highly valued. Acknowledgment is made to the following mountain people, from whose singing the airs were notated:- Mrs. Sally Adams, Mrs. Dave Mulling, Mrs. Martha Richie (Ritchie), Mrs. Julie Morgan, Mrs. Isom Richie, Mr. Will Wooten, Mrs. Tom Witt, Mrs. Betty Jane Smith, Mr. Wiley Parks, and the children of the Hindman Settlement School. To Messrs. Jason Richie, Rob Morgan, and Senator Hillard Smith, who were frequently consulted, especial thanks are due.
Lord Thomas- Collected by McGill (KY) pre1917 McGill
"O mother, O mother, come riddle my sport,
Come riddle it all as one;
Must I go marry Fair Ellender,
Or bring the brown girl home"
"The brown girl she has house and lands,
Fair Ellender, she has none;
I warn you on my blessing, Sir Thomas,
Go bring the brown girl home."
"Go saddle up my milk-white steed,
Go saddle him up for me;
I'll go invite fair Ellender,
My wedding for to see."
He rode, he rode till he came to the hall,
He tingled all on the ring;
Nobody so ready as Fair Ellender,
To rise and let him come in.
"What news, what news," fair Ellender cried,
"What news have you brought to me"
"I've come to invite you to my wedding.
Is that good news for thee?"
"Bad news, bad news," fair Ellender cried,
"Bad news have you brought to me;
I once did think I would be your bride,
And you my bridegroom would be."
"O mother, O mother, come riddle my sport,
Come riddle it all as one;
Must I go to Lord Thomas's wedding,
Or tarry at home with thee"
"O enemies, enemies you have there,
The brown girl she has none;
I warn you on my blessing, my child,
To tarry this day at home."
"There may be many of my friends, mother,
But many more of my foes;
But if I never return again,
To Lord Thomas's wedding I'll go."
She dressed herself in scarlet red,
Her maids she dressed in green;
And every town that she passed through,
They took her to be some queen.
She rode, she rode till she came to the hall,
She tingled all on the ring;
Nobody so ready as Lord Thomas himself,
To rise and bid her come in.
He took her by the lily-white hand,
And led her through the hall;
And set her down in a golden chair,
Among the ladies all.
"Is this your bride" fair Ellender cried,
"That looks so wondrous brown
You once could have married as fair a ladie
As ever the sun shone on."
"Despise her not, Fair Ellen," he cried,
"Despise her not to me;
I love the end of your little finger,
Much better than her whole bodie."
The brown girl had a little penknife,
It was both keen and sharp;
Between the long ribs and the short,
She pierced fair Ellender's heart.
"O what is the matter" Lord Thomas, he cried,
"O are you blind" cried she;
"And don't you see my own heart's blood,
Come trickling down my knee."
He caught the brown girl by the hand,
And led her across the hall;
He drew a bright sword, he cut off her head,
And threw it against the wall.
"O mother, O mother, go dig my grave,
Go dig it wide and deep;
And place fair Ellender at my head,
The brown girl at my feet."
He placed the butt against the wall,
The point against his breast;
Saying: "Here's the end of three poor lovers,
God take them all to rest."