The Brown Girl- Shinn (WV) c1971 Bush II
[From: Folk Songs of Central West Virginia; Bush, Vol. 2, 1971.
The whole first part of the ballad is missing. Two stanzas that were remembered from the first part are given at the end.
R. Matteson 2014]
the Brown Girl - Sung by Mr. H.J. Shinn, Jackson County, WV.
She rode till she come to Lord Thomas' gate,
And loud did she tinqle her rings.
And none so ready to let her in
Than Lord Thomas himself.
He took her by her lily-while hand,
And led her through the hall:
And seated her of the end of the table
Among the fair ladies all.
"is this your wife, Lord Thomas?
she's looking wonderful brown
You once could have married as fair a girl,
As ever rode through this town."
The Brown Girl, having a sword in her hand,
It being both long and sharp.
5he pierced Fair Ellender through the side,
And pierced it close to her heart.
"Are you not blind, Lord Thomas,
Or can't you very well see?
Can't you see my own heart's blood
Come trinkling down my knee?
For don't you see my own heart's blood
Come trinkling down at my knee?
Lord thomas, having a sword in his hand,
It being both long and sharp.
He cut off the Brown girl's head,
And threw it against the wall.
"Go dig my grave in the old churchyard,
Go dig it wide and deep.
And plant fair Ellender at my head,
And the brown girl at my feet."
* * * *
The Brown Girl has house and land,
Fair Ellender she has none.
But by the blessings, the blessings of old,
Go bring the Brown Girl home.
He rode till he came to Fair Ellender's door,
He tingles at the ring,
Ans none was so ready as Fair Ellender,
To rise and let him in.