The Brown Girl- Crowder (NC) 1935 Sheppard
[From: Cabins in the Laurel by Muriel Earley Sheppard pub. 1935
In 1928 New York native Muriel Earley Sheppard (1898-1951) moved with her mining engineer husband to the Toe River Valley -- an isolated pocket in North Carolina between the Blue Ridge and Iron Mountains.
R. Matteson 2014]
The Brown Girl - sung by Ellen Crowder
"Come father, come mother come riddle us[1] both,
Come riddle us both as once,
and tell me whether to marry fair Ellen,
or bring the brown girl home."
The brown girl she has house and land,
Fair Ellender she has none,
it's my advice to you my son,
Go bring me the brown girl home."
He called out to his merry men,
By one, by two and three,
"Go saddle me up my milk-white steed,
Fair Ellender's wedding[2] I'll see.
He rode, he rode to Ellender's gate,
He rattled at the lane[3].
Nobody so ready [as] Fair Ellender herself
To rise and let him in.
"Lord Thomas, Lord Thomas, what news have you brought?
What news have you brought to me?"
"I've come to ask you to my wedding today."
"Lord Thomas, bad news to me."
She called out her merry men,
By one and two and three,
"Go
[upcoming]
1. "me" makes sense "us" doesn't
2. He's not going to her wedding he's inviting her to his wedding.
3. This is probably "ring"