Three Lovers- Cole (VA) 1962 Foss/Abrahams
[From: Anglo-American Folk Style, by Roger Abrahmas and George Foss, 1968.
R. Mattteson 2014]
Three Lovers- Sung by Viola Cole, Fancy Gap Virginia, 1962
1.Lord Thomas, he was a bold keeper,
The keeper of the king's deer
Fair Ellender was a fair young lady,
Lord Thomas he loved her dear.
2. "Oh Mother, oh Mother come unriddle this sport
Unriddle it all as one,
As to whether I should marry fair Ellender,
Or go bring the brown girl home.
3. "The brown girl she has house and land,
Fair Ellender has none,
Therefore I advise you as my best friend,
To go bring the brown girl home.
4. He rode unto Fair Ellender's house,
He tingled at the ring,
There was none so ready as fair Ellender herself,
To rise and ask him in.
5. "What news, what news, Lord Thomas," she cried,
"What news You bring to me?"
"I've come to ask you to my wedding,
Is that good news to thee."
6. "Bad news, bad news, Lord Thomas"' she cried'
"Bad news you bring to me.
I thought I was to be your bride,
And you the bridegroom to be."
7. "Go saddle me up the milk-white horse,
Go saddle me up the brown,
Go saddle me up the swiftest horse,
That ever walked on ground."
8. She rode unto Lord Thomas' house,
She tingled at the ring,
There's none so ready as Lord Thomas himself,
To rise and ask her in.
9. He took her by the lily white hand,
He led her through the hall,
He led her to the head of the table,
Among the gentries all.
10. "Is this your bride, Lord Thomas?" she cried,
"She looks most wonderful brown,
When you could'a' married as fair a young lady,
That ever the sun shone on."
11. The brown girl had a pen knife in her hand,
It looked most keen and sharp,
She pierced it through fair Ellender's side,
And it entered near her heart.
12. "What is the matter?" Lord Thomas, he cried,
"What is the matter?" cried he,
"Why don't you see my own heart's blood,
Come trinkling down by me?"
13. He took the brown girl by the hand,
He led her through the hall,
He took a sword and cut her head off,
And stoved it against the wall.
14. "Oh Mother, oh Mother, go make my grave,
Go make it wide and deep,
And bury fair Ellender in my arms,
And the brown girl at my feet."
15. He placed the sword against the ground,
The point against his breast,
Saying, "Here's the end of three young lovers,
God send them all to rest."