Thomas and Ellen- Turner (NC) c.1930s Niles D
[From The Ballad Book of John Jacob Niles; 1961. According to Niles, this African-American version come from a printed broadside that Clara Turner purchased in Atlanta, Georgia. It's hard to believe. No date is given by Niles, I'm presuming it is pre-1940.
R. Matteson 2012, 2014]
Thomas and Ellen- Clara Turner (NC) c.1930s Niles D
1. Oh Thomas, my Thomas,
Listen what I said,
Don't marry no white girl,
Don't marry no red.
2. "Oh Mama, oh Mama,
I will tell you what,
White girls got lots of things
Those brown girls ain't got.
3. "Ellen she got horses,
She got house and gear,
She got cabin, she got lands,
I love her so dear."
4. "Oh Thomas, my boy Thomas,
You best hear what I say,
Marry up with Annie Brown,
Send Ellen away."
5. Now the Brown girl stabbed fair Ellen,
Ellen lay like dead,
And Thomas flung that Brown girl
Dead across that bed.
6. Please go dig a grave,
Bury one, two, and three.
And dig that grave in a quiet place
'Neath a weep-'syillow tree.
7. Rose growed up from Ellen,
Briar from the Brown.
Hear how those folks are sorry,
Weepin' in the town.
8. Thomas was a-weepin' too,
Down in the cold, cold ground.
But grave for three so wide, so deep,
No one heard him sound.