Lyrics Lord Thomas and Fair Ellender - Jean Ritchie

Oh mother oh mother come riddle it down
Come riddle two hearts as one
Say must I marry fair Ellender
Or bring the brown girl home

The brown girl she has house and lands
Fair Ellender she has none
Oh the best advice I can give you my son
Is go bring me the brown girl home

He rode 'til he came to fair Ellender's gate
He tinkled the bell with his cane
No one so ready and fair Ellender herself
To arise and bid him come in

Oh what's the news Lord Thomas, she cried
What's the news you've brung to me
I've come to ask you to my wedding
Now what do you think of me

Oh mother oh mother come riddle it down
Come riddle two hearts as one
Oh must I go to Lord Thomas's wedding
Or stay at home and mourn

Oh the brown girl she's got business there
You know you have got none
Oh the best advice I can give you my daughter
Is to stay at home and mourn

She dressed herself in a snow white dress
Her maids they dressed in green
And every town that they rode through
They took her to be some queen

She rode 'til she came to Lord Thomas's gate
She pulled all in her rein
No one so ready as Lord Thomas himself
To arise and bid her come in

He took her by the lily white hand
He led her through the hall
He seated her down in a rocking chair
Amongst those ladies all

Is this your bride Lord Thomas, she cried
She looks a wonderful brown
You once could have married a maiden as fair
As ever the sun shall know

Dispraise her not fair Ellender, he cried
Dispraise her not to me
For I think more of your little finger
Than of her whole body

The brown girl had a little pen knife
It being both keen and sharp
Betwixt the long ribs and the short
Pierced fair Ellender to the heart

Oh what's the matter, Lord Thomas he cried
You look so pale and wan
You used to have as rosy a color
As ever the sun shall know

Oh are you blind Lord Thomas, she cried
Or is it you cannot see
And can't you see my own heart's blood
Come a trinkling down to my knee

Lord Thomas he drew his sword from his side
As he run through the hall
He cut off the head of his bonny brown bride
And kicked it against the wall

Then placing the handle against the wall
And the blade a'towards his heart
Said did you ever see three true lovers meet
That had so soon to part

Oh mother oh mother, go dig my grave
And dig it both wide and deep
And bury fair Ellender in my arms
And the brown girl at my feet