Lord William- Lawhorne (VA) 1937 Wilkinson MS
[My title, from Bronson No. 21; Wilkinson MS, no title given.
This is one of about ten versions recorded in the Brown's Cove, Virginia (Abermarle, Green Co.) area. Davis and the Virginia Folklore Society first found versions in that area in 1915, Sharp in 1918, Wilkinson three in 1935-1936, Davis two in the 1930s and George Foss one in the 1960s.
Morris and Shifflett are the prominent names of purveyors of folk music in that region.
R. Matteson 2014]
[Lord William] - Wilkinson MSS., 1936-37, p. 5. Sung by Mrs. Nellie M. Lawhorne, Waynesboro, Va., April 23, 1937.
Light off, light off, Lady Margaret, he said,
And hold my horse in your hand,
Till I go and fight your seven brothers bold,
And your father by them stand.
She held, she held, she better, better held,
And she never shed one tear
Until that she saw her last brother fall,
And her father she loved more dear.
O hold, O hold, Lord William, she cried,
Your strokes are now full sore;
For many a true love I might have had,
But a father I can have no more.
She pull-ed out her silk handkerchief,
Which was both soft and fine;
And she wip-ed off her father's bloody wounds
Tilt they ran more clearer than wine'
Lord William he mounted his milk-white steed,
Lady Margaret mounted her bay;
And he drew his buckler down by his side,
And so they went riding away.
They rode, they rode, yes they better, better rode,
They rode by the light of the moon,
Until they came to their own mother's door,
Crying: Dear mother, are you within?
Lord William died about midnight,
Lady Margaret she died before day.
There never was a couple that ever went together,
But seen more pleasure than they.