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Lord Thomas and Fair Ellender
Dublin Core
Title
Lord Thomas and Fair Ellender
Subject
Ballads
Description
This is a recording made by Bobby McMillon, c 1968, of Nathan Gortney (Nate Gortney) singing the ballad "Lord Thomas and Fair Ellender" (Roud 4, Child 73).
Creator
Bobby McMillon
Source
Bobby McMillon Collection, Southern Appalachian Archives, Mars Hill University
Publisher
Southern Appalachian Archives, Liston B. Ramsey Center for Appalachian Studies, Mars Hill University
Date
c. 1968
Rights
This item may be viewed, downloaded, and printed for personal and educational use, but any commercial use is prohibited without permission from the Southern Appalachian Archives, Mars Hill University. Questions may be directed to the Archivist at (828) 689-1262 or archives@mhu.edu.
Format
mp3
Language
English
Type
music
Sound Item Type Metadata
Original Format
Cassette
Duration
1 minute, 54 seconds
Transcription
“Come a-riddle dear, riddle, dear father, dear mother
Oh tell me whether to marry fair Ellen or bring you the brown girl home.”
“Oh the brown girl she has house and land, Fair Ellender she has none
So the best advice I can give to you is to bring this brown girl home.”
He rode ‘til he came to Fair Ellender’s home, he tingled full loud at the ring
And none was ready, Fair Ellen herself to rise and bid him come in
“What news, what news, Lord Thomas, for me? What news have you for me?”
“I came to ask you to my new wedding,” “Bad news, Lord Thomas, for me”
She called up her merry maids, one, by two, or three
“And saddle for me my milk-white steed, Lord Thomas’ wedding I’ll see”
Sher rode ‘til she came to Lord Thomas’ home, she tingled full loud at the ring
And none was ready, Lord Thomas himself to rise and let her in
“Lord Thomas, Lord Thomas, is this your bride? I think she looks full wonderful brown
When you might of-a had as fair a young lady as ever the sun shone on”
Oh the brown girl she was standing by with a very keen knife in her hand
Between the long ribs and the short, she pitied Fair Ellender’s heart
“Lord Thomas, Lord Thomas, are you blind or neither can’t you see?
Can’t you see my own, my own heart’s blood come trickling down by me?”
He took the brown girl by her hand and led her from the hall
And with his sword cut off her head and kicked it against the wall
He set his sword against the ground, the point towards his breast
Saying, “Here’s the end of three dear lovers, God send their souls to rest.”
Oh tell me whether to marry fair Ellen or bring you the brown girl home.”
“Oh the brown girl she has house and land, Fair Ellender she has none
So the best advice I can give to you is to bring this brown girl home.”
He rode ‘til he came to Fair Ellender’s home, he tingled full loud at the ring
And none was ready, Fair Ellen herself to rise and bid him come in
“What news, what news, Lord Thomas, for me? What news have you for me?”
“I came to ask you to my new wedding,” “Bad news, Lord Thomas, for me”
She called up her merry maids, one, by two, or three
“And saddle for me my milk-white steed, Lord Thomas’ wedding I’ll see”
Sher rode ‘til she came to Lord Thomas’ home, she tingled full loud at the ring
And none was ready, Lord Thomas himself to rise and let her in
“Lord Thomas, Lord Thomas, is this your bride? I think she looks full wonderful brown
When you might of-a had as fair a young lady as ever the sun shone on”
Oh the brown girl she was standing by with a very keen knife in her hand
Between the long ribs and the short, she pitied Fair Ellender’s heart
“Lord Thomas, Lord Thomas, are you blind or neither can’t you see?
Can’t you see my own, my own heart’s blood come trickling down by me?”
He took the brown girl by her hand and led her from the hall
And with his sword cut off her head and kicked it against the wall
He set his sword against the ground, the point towards his breast
Saying, “Here’s the end of three dear lovers, God send their souls to rest.”
Files
Collection
Citation
Bobby McMillon , “Lord Thomas and Fair Ellender,” Southern Appalachian Archives Mars Hill University, accessed October 23, 2026, https://southernappalachianarchives.org/items/show/991.