Lord Thomas- Thacker (AL) 1980 Rosenbaum
[From Rosenbaum; Folk Visions and Voices- 1983.
R. Matteson 2014]
Lord Thomas- Maude Thacker, Tate, Pickens County GA August, 23, 1980.
1. Lord Thomas he is a gaily man,
He keeps the king's white hall.
Fair Ellender is a beautiful bride,
Lord Thomas he loved her well, well, well,
Lord Thomas he loved her well.
2. "Oh mamma, oh mamma, come riddle me now,
Come riddle me unto one;
Whether I should go to fair Ellender's wedding
Or bring the brown girl home, home, home,
Or bring the brown girl home."
3. "The brown girl has both house and land,
Fair Ellender she has none;
My advice to you, Lord Thomas, my son,
Is to bring the brown girl home, home, home,
Is to bring the brown girl home."
4. He mounted on his milk-white steed,
And rode to fair Ellender's door;
And none so ready but fair Ellender herself
To rise and let him in, in, in,
Tb rise and let him in.
5. "What is the news, Lord Thomas," she said,
"What is the news?" said she.
"I've come to invite you to my wedding,
Which is bad news to me, me, me,
Which is bad news to me."
6. She mounted on her milk-white steed
And rode to Lord Thomas's gate;
And none so ready but Lord Thomas himself
To rise and let her in, in, in,
To rise and let her in.
7. He took her by her lily-white hand,
He led her into the hall,
Seated her down among the ladies,
Among the ladies of all, all, all,
Among the ladies of all.
8. "Is this your bride, Lord Thomas?" she said,
"Is this your bride?" said she.
"She is a beautiful bride,
Don't run her down to me, me, me,
Don't run her down to me."
9. The brown girl having a little pen knife,
Both keen and sharp;
Between the long ribs and the short
She riddled fair Ellender's heart, heart, heart,
She riddled fair Eliender's heart.
10. He took the brown girl by her hand,
And led her out in the hall;
Drew out a sword, cut off her head,
And he kicked it against the wall, wall, wall,
And he kicked it against the wall.
11. He placed the brown girl on the floor,
Fair Ellender to his breast,
Saying, "Here's the death of three true lovers,
God send their souls to rest, rest, rest,
God send their souls to rest'
12. "Oh mother, oh mother, go dig my grave,
Dig it long and deep;
Place fair Ellender in my arms,
And the brown girl at my feet, feet, feet,
And the brown girl at my feet."