Lord Lovel Lord Lovel he stood at his castle gate, A-combing his milk-white steed; When along came Lady Nancy Bell, A-wishing her lover good speed, A-wishing her lover good speed. "O where are you going, Lord Lovel?" she said, "O where are you going?" said she; "I'm going, my dear Nancy Bell, Strange countries for to see." "O when will you be back, Lord Lovel?" she said, "O when will you be back?" said she. "In a year or two or three at the least I'll return to my Lady Nancy." He hadn't been gone but a year and a day, Strange countries for to see, When a languishing thought came into his mind, Lady Nancy Bell he must see. He rode and he rode upon his white steed, Till he came to London Town; And there he heard St. Varner's bell, And the people all mourning round. "Is anybody dead?" Lord Lovel he said, "Is anybody dead?" said he. "A lord's daughter's dead," a lady replied, "And some call her Lady Nancy." He ordered the grave to be opened forthwith And the shroud to be folded down; And there he kissed the clay-cold lips, Till the tears came trinkling down. Lady Nancy she died as she might be to-day Lord Lovel he died to-morrow And out of her bosom there grew a red rose And out of Lord Lovel's a briar They grew and they grew till they reached the church top And there they couldn't grow any higher And there they twined in a true lover's knot Which true lovers always admire. Child #75 Collected from Blanche Satterfield in 1915 Printed in Folk-songs of the South SOF
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