Lord Thomas- Stockton (FL) 1950 Morris A
[From Folksongs of Florida by Alton C. Morris p. 265, published by the University of Florida Press. Also Bronson No. 112.
R. Matteson 2014]
“Lord Thomas.” Text from Miss Geraldine Stockton of Wimamua FL, from her father in Kentucky. Tune by Mrs Whitely.
1. "Come Father, come Father, come riddle this riddle.
Come riddle it all in one;
Must I go marry Fair Ellender
Or bring the Brown Girl home,
Or bring the Brown Girl home?"
2. "The Brown Girl, she has house and lands,
Fair Ellender she has none;
So I would advise you as a good fortune
To bring the Brown Girl home,
To bring the Brown Girl home."
3. He dressed himself in the finest of silks
As fine as ever was seen,
And every town that he rode through,
They took him to be some king,
They took him to be some king.
4. When he got to Fair Ellender's hall
He rang the clatteree;
No one was ready as Fair Ellender
To rise and let him come in,
To rise and let him come in.
5. "Have you any news, Lord Thomas?" she asked,
"Have you any news?" asked she.
"I've come to invite you to my wedding,
And that's sad news for thee, thee, thee,
And that's sad news for thee."
6. "Oh mother, mother," fair Eleanor said,
"Advise me as your own,
Must I go to Lord Thomas's wedding
Or must I tarry at home. home, home,
Or must I tarry at home?"
7. "Many may be your friends," said she,
"And many may be your foes,
And now I charge you with my blessing,
My daughter, you tarry at home, home, home,
My daughter, you tarry at home."
8. "Oh, many may be my friends," said she,
"And many may be my foes;
I'll venture life, I'll venture death,
To Lord Thomas's wedding I'll go, go, go,
To Lord Thomas's wedding I'll go."
9. She rode and she rode till she came to the gate,
And loudly she did call;
No one so ready as Lord Thomas
To welcome her into the hall, hall, hall,
To welcome her into the hall.
10. He took her by the lily-white hand
And led her through the hall;
He seated her at the head of the table,
Among the gentlemen all, all, all,
Among the gentlemen all.
11. "Lord Thomas, Lord Thomas," fair Eleanor said,
"Your bride is very brown,
And you could have married as fair a lady
As e'er the sun shone on, on, on,
As e'er the sun shone on."
12. The Brown Girl had a little penknife;
'Twas very keen and sharp;
She stepped up to fair Eleanor;
And stabbed her to the heart, heart, heart,
And stabbed her to the heart.
13. He took the Brown, Girl by the hand
And led her through the hall;
He drew his saber and cut off her head
And kicked it against the wall, wall, wall,
And kicked it against the wall.
14. "Go dig my grave both wide and long,
And dig it very deep;
Bury fair Eleanor in my arms
And the Brown Girl at my feet, feet, feet,
And the Brown Girl at my feet."