Hi Roberto,

I was rather puzzled by your initial posting of the lyrics - they did seem rather lacking (BG)! I have listened to the recording carefully a few more times and incorporated corrections from your version. I don't know how I came by 'hat' for 'heart' - must have lost the plot there! In our combined version below, I have anglicised all the 'hearts' so there is no mistake. I originally went for the 'leak' spelling in the second last stanza because that is what is in Child's G text. Since the meaning is 'wake', your use of 'lyke' makes the meaning clearer. I am pretty happy with it now except for the 2 words (which hopefully will come out in blue when I post this). What he is singing in the second line sounds like 'career' but I have no idea what it should be - other texts use easily recognisable words like 'deer'. Do you know the word 'covin' is correct? It obviously means 'stall', but I can't find a reference to it. MacColl definitely has a 'v' sound in the word otherwise we could go for 'cubbin' or 'cubin' which is closer to the meaning of a stall or confined space. Can you indicate any areas you may be still unhappy with in our combined text below?

LORD THOMAS AND FAIR ANNIE (THE BROWN GIRL)

Lord Thomas he was a very fine man
Went oot tae hunt his career
Fair Annie she was the fairest woman
That ever the sun shone on
That ever the sun shone on

Lord Thomas he spoke a word in jest
And Annie took it ill
He said 'I'll marry nane o' your mean maidens
Wi'oot my parents will' (2)

Then Thomas he is hame tae his mither
And bowed low doon tae his knee
'Oh shall I wed the nut brown maid
Or shall I wed fair Annie?' (2)

'The nut brown maid has cows and yowes
And Annie she has nane
And, for my blessin's, my son Thomas,
I pray ye let her alane' (2)

Then oot did (it) spak his little sister
Stood by her nurse's knee
'Oh marry ye your fair Annie
And let the ither ane be (2)

'A cow may dee in her covin
And an ox may droon in the mire
But marry ye your fair Annie
Ye'll get your heart's desire (2)

'A cow may dee in her covin
Or an ox may hang in the plow
But marry ye your fair Annie
And ye'll get gear anew' (2)

Lord Thomas he's gane to Annie's bower door
And tirled low at the pin
Nae readier was than fair Annie
Tae let Lord Thomas in (2)

'It's will ye come tae my weddin', Annie,
The morn's tae be the day'
'It's never I fit', said fair Annie
Unless the bride I'll be' (2)

Lord Thomas he gade up the high, high way
And Annie she gade doon the glen
And Annie shone as fair her lane
As Thomas and a' his men (2)

'Oh whar got ye the water, Annie
That washed ye sae clean?'
'I got it by my mither's bow'r-door
Beneath a marble stane' (2)

'Oh ye maun wear my heart, Annie
And ye maun wear my love
Until my wife hae born a son
And that will end oor love' (2)

'I winna wear your heart, Lord Thomas
I winna wear your love
But ye maun gae to your nut brown maid
Tae her ye constant prove' (2)

Then he sent hame with fair Annie
His heart and his heart's bleed
But ere the hoor o' twel' o'clock
Fair Annie she was deid (2)

Then Thomas he's gane tae Annie's bow'r-door
And tirled low at the pin
Nae readier was than Annie's mither
Tae let Lord Thomas in (2)

'Oh deal ye weel at my lover's lyke
The white bread and the wine
And ere the morn at this time
Ye'll deal as well at mine' (2)

The ane was laid in Mary's kirk
And the other in Mary's quire
And fae the ane there sprung a birk
Fae the other there sprung a briar (2)

Cheers, Stewie.