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THE BROWN GIRL AND FAIR ELLENTER (LORD THOMAS AND FAIR ANNET; THE BROWN GIRL) Sung by: Mrs. Ben Daugherty Recorded in Cave City, AR 9/6/61 Click here to listen to the original recording Fair Ellenter, she has none. The best advice I can give to you Is to bring the brown girl home. So he rode east, and he rode west; He rode under the sun. He rode ‘til he came to fair Ellenter’s house, And she was sitting alone. “What news, what news, what news?” she said. “What news, what news?” she cried. “I’ve come to ask you to my wedding.” “Sad news, sad news,” she said. She dressed herself all out in red, And around her neck in green, And every station that they passed through, They took her to be some queen. Oh, they rode east, and they rode west; They rode under the sun. They rode ‘til they came to Lord Thomas’ house, And she was sitting alone. He taken fair Ellenter by the hand. He led her through the hall And set her in a golden chair, So high above them all. The brown girl, she has a little penny knife; It looks so wonderful sharp. Between the long ribs and the short, She stuck fair Ellenter’s heart. He taken the brown girl through the hall, And he led her through the hall, Taking the knife, cut off her head, And threw it against the wall. Then, placing the handle against the wall And the blade at his heart, Saying, “Here goes three true lovers. God send them where they will rest.” “Go dig my grave on yonders hill, Go dig it wide and deep, And bury fair Ellenter in my arms, And the brown girl at my feet.” Also found in Child, “73, “Lord Thomas and Fair Annet”; Randolph, Vol. I, #15, “The Brown Girl”; Brown, Vol. II, #19, “Lord Thomas and Fair Annet”; Belden, p. 37, “Lord Thomas and Fair Annet.” |
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All Songs Recorded by John Quincy Wolf, Jr., unless otherwise noted The John Quincy Wolf Folklore Collection Lyon College, Batesville, Arkansas Back to the Song Index Back to the Wolf Collection Homepage ©Copyright 2002 Lyon College |