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Child Ballad 295
C | F | Bb | F | |
Oh, | father, oh, | father, come | riddle to | me, |
C | F | C |
Come | riddle it all as | one; |
F | Bb | F | |
And | tell me whether to | marry fair | Ellen, |
Bb | F | |
Or bring the | Brown girl | home. |
"The Brown Girl, she has house and land,
Fair Ellender, she has none;
And there I charge you with a blessing
To bring the Brown Girl home."
He got on his horse and he rode and he rode,
He rode till he come to her home;
An no one so ready as Fair Ellen herself,
To rise and welcome him in.
"What news have you brought unto me, Lord Thomas,
What news have you brought unto me ?"
"Eve come to ask you to my wedding,
A sorrowful wedding to be."
"Oh, mother, oh, mother, would you go or stay?"
"Fair child, do as you please,
But Em afraid if you go you'll never return,
To see your dear mother any more."
She turned around all dressed in white,
Her sisters dressed in green;
And every town that they rode through,
They took her to be some queen.
They rode and they rode till they come to the hall,
She pulled on the bell and it rang;
And no one so ready as Lord Thomas himself,
To rise and bid her in.
Then taking her by her lily-white hand,
And leading her through the hall;
Saying, "Fifty gay ladies are here today,
But here is the flower of all."
The Brown Girl, she was standing by,
With knives ground keen and sharp;
Between the long ribs and the short,
She pierced Fair Ellender's heart.
Lord Thomas, he was standing by,
With knife ground keen and sharp;
Between the long ribs and the short,
He pierced his own bride's heart.
Then placing the handle against the wall,
The point against his breast;
Saying, "This is the ending of three true lovers,
God sends them all to rest."
"Oh father, oh father, go dig my grave,
Go dig it wide and deep;
And place Fair Ellender in my arms,
And the Brown Girl at my feet."
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