Lord Thomas- Morris (VA) pre1936 Scarborough C
[From: A Song Catcher in the Southern Mountains; Scarborough 1937. Her notes follow. Polly and other members of the Morris family contributed ballads to other collectors. I've corrected minor spelling errors.
R. Matteson 2014]
Polly Morris, of Yellow Branch, sang a somewhat different account, with a few details not found in the others. She had learned this from the singing of her father, Uncle Billy Morris, who had known a number of ballads and songs, but who had died before I arrived in his section. She wrote it down for me.
C. Lord Thomas- Polly Morris (Yellow Branch, VA) pre1936 Scarborough C (Text supplied from Morris)
Lord Thomas, Lord Thomas, a brave young soldier,
a captain of the war,
Fair Ellen, fair Ellen, a beautiful damsel,
Lord Thomas loved her so.
He asked relief of his dear old mother,
which girl he must bring home.
I must charge you with all my care,
Go bring the brown girl home.
The brown girl she has house and land,
Fair Ellen she has none.
If I might charge you with all my heart,
go bring the brown girl home.
He mounted on his milk-white steed,
His bridle and saddle was brought,
He road tell he come to Fair Ellen hall,
so loud he rapped the ring.
Good-news, good news, to you, fair Ellen,
Good news, good news to you.
I've come to invite you to my wedding,
and ain't it good news to you?
She dressed herself in scarlet red,
her riding dress was green,
And every town that she rode by
They taken her to be some queen.
She rode till she came to Lord Thomas hall,
So loud she raped the ring.
There was none so ready as Lord Thomas himself
To arise and welcome her in.
Is this your brown girl, says fair Ellen,
f am sure she is wondrous brown.
You once could have married as fair skin girl
as ever the sun shined on.
The brown girl she having a keeping knife,
it being both keen and sharp,
Between their long rib and the short
she pierced fair Ellen's heart.
What's the matter, what's the matter, Lord Thomas says,
You look as pale as death,
You once did have as red-rose cheeks
as ever the sun shined on.
Lord Thomas, Lord Thomas,
oh can't You very well see?
Oh can't You see my own heart's blood
come twinkling down by me?
Lord Thomas he had a dirk in his house,
it being both keen and sharp,
And with it- he cut off his own bride's head
and knocked it against the wall.
He threw the handle on the floor
the Point on to his heart,
Did you ever see three true lovers meet
as quick as these three did part?