The Brown Girl- Pierce (SC-NC) pre1927 Reed Smith Version C
[From American Songbag by Carl Sandburg, 1927. Also Reed Smith's South Carolina Ballads; University of South Carolina; 1928. Smith gave this version to Sandburg who published it first.
R. Matteson 2012, 2014]
"The Brown Girl" or "Fair Ellen"- Sung by Tressie Pierce in Alexander County, North Carolina.
1 "The Brown Girl she has houses and lands,
Fair Eleanor she has none;
The best advice I can give you, my son,
Is to bring the Brown Girl home."
2 He dressed himself in scarlet red,
And rode all over the town;
And everybody that saw him that day,
Thought he was the King.
3 He rode till he came to Fair Eleanor's door,
And tingled at the ring;
And none so ready as Fair Eleanor,
To arise and let him in.
4 "What news, what news, Lord Thomas," she said,
"What news have you for me?"
"I've come to ask you to my weddin'.
Tomorrow is the day."
5 "Bad news, bad news, Lord Thomas," she said,
"Bad news, bad news, to me;
You've come to ask me to your weddin',
When I thought your bride I was to be."
6 She dressed herself in scarlet red,
And rode all over the town;
And everybody that saw her that day,
Took her to be the Queen.
7 She rode till she came to Lord Thomas' door,
And tingled at the ring;
And none so ready as Lord Thomas himself,
To arise and let her in.
8 "Is this your bride? Lord Thomas," she cried,
"I'm sure, she's wonderful brown;
You might have had as fair a young bride,
As ever the sun shone on."
9 The Brown Girl, she had a long pen-knife,
Twas wonderful long and sharp;
Between the short ribs and the long,
She pierced Fair Eleanor's heart.
10 "Fair Eleanor, what makes you look so pale?
You used to look so red;
You used to have two rosy red cheeks,
And now you've nary one."
11 "Oh, don't you see, or can't you see,
The knife that was pierced in me?
Oh, don't you see my own heart's blood,
A-tricklin' to my knee?"
12 Lord Thomas had a long broad-sword,
It was wonderful long and sharp,
He cut the head of the Brown Girl off,
And kicked it against the wall.
13 "Go dig my grave under yonder green tree,
Go dig it wide and long;
And bury Fair Eleanor in my arms,
And the Brown Girl at my feet."