Lyr Req: Lord Thomas & Fair Annie (Child #73)

Subject: Lord Thomas & Fair Annie
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Mar 00 - 10:47 AM

I'd like to have the full text of the version sung by Ewan MacColl. It is in his Folkways' "Child Ballads", n.1, and in "Classic Scots Ballads" (Tradition). I have written down some of the words, but there are too many I can't get. If someone can help, thank you very much. Roberto.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lord Thomas & Fair Annie
From: Ranks
Date: 13 Mar 00 - 11:55 AM

Does it start "Lord Thomas he was a bold Forester?" Then I could send you the Words Bob Copper sings, though it might take a while to write them down.

Ranks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lord Thomas & Fair Annie
From: Amos
Date: 13 Mar 00 - 12:28 PM

MacColl's FAIR ANNIE can be found here.

A

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lord Thomas & Fair Annie
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 13 Mar 00 - 01:10 PM

Hi GUEST-

If you enter [Fair Annie] in the DigiTrad search box (the brackets mean that uit's a phrase, and not unconnected words, you'll find it. Or if you knew it was child #62, you could just enter #62 as the search string.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lord Thomas & Fair Annie
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 13 Mar 00 - 01:48 PM

Entering [Fair Annie] gives a not-found message, as does entering the separate words Fair and Annie.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lord Thomas & Fair Annie
From: Amos
Date: 13 Mar 00 - 02:00 PM

Use the blue clicky thing above...there are 2 versions of Fair Annie in the DT as well as numerous other references to Lord Thomas..

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lord Thomas & Fair Annie
From: Susan of DT
Date: 13 Mar 00 - 09:03 PM

MacColl does not do Child #62 on Classic Scots Ballads, it is Child #73, usually called Lord Thomas and Fair Ellender or the Brown Girl. We have 3 versions of child #73. Search for #73. There are too many Lord Thomas' in the ballads for easy identification. I knew Fair Annie was not on that record.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lord Thomas & Fair Annie
From: Amos
Date: 13 Mar 00 - 09:40 PM

Susan:

The reference on the DT entry says Child #62 recorded by MacColl and Seeger on Blood Red Roses @love @family ...is this an erratum or just a different album? Didn't mean to misguide anyone, sorry...

A

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lord Thomas & Fair Annie
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 13 Mar 00 - 10:00 PM

None of the Fair Annies in the DT is the one requested, the folkways unaccompanied recording, which is now in CD by Smithsonian-Folkways.

I'll get that out tomorrow and see how much I can copy. I should be able to help to some extent, although I may not be able to understand ALL the words either.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lord Thomas & Fair Annie
From: GUEST,Roberto
Date: 14 Mar 00 - 10:21 AM

Yes,the ballad is number 73. The version I'm looking for begins with this stanza: Lord Thomas he was a very fine man/..../Fair Annie she was the fairest woman/That ever the sun shone on (2). Roberto.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lord Thomas & Fair Annie
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 14 Mar 00 - 12:04 PM

I'm sorry, I can't help with the words. I can't find the CD involved, although I KNOW it's here somewhere.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lord Thomas & Fair Annie
From: Susan of DT
Date: 14 Mar 00 - 06:30 PM

Life gets complicated with lots of records by MacColl and lots of ballads with Lord Thomas:
MacColl recorded Child #62 Fair Annie on Blood Red Roses and Child #73 Brown Girl on Classic Scots Ballads.
The unidentified guest said that #73 was on Classic Scots Ballads, an album I bought in 1971 and practically wore out with constant playing, so I knew Fair Annie was not on that one. Amos is right about the Blood Red Roses album.
None of the 3 #73s we have are precisely what MacColl did on Classic Scots Ballads, but are fairly similar. If people want me to, I will listen to it and write it down. It will probably miss the spring edition, since that is closing soon.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lord Thomas & Fair Annie
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Mar 00 - 12:46 PM

I'm not an unidentified guest, since I've signed with my name, Roberto. No doubt the version of "Lord Thomas and Fair Annie" that I am looking for is number 73 in Child collection. Ewan MacColl recorded it without instrumental accompaniment on the first volume of his three-volumes "English and Scottish Popular Ballads", Folkways, F-3509, and with instrumental accompaniment and backing choruses by Peggy Seeger in his "Classic Scots Ballads", where it is the last track. The Tradition LP (I'm talking about the one with Aikendrum; Hughie Graeme; The False Lover Won Back; The Elfin Knight; I Once Loved a Lass; Mormond Braes etc) has recently being reissued on CD.In my opinion, MacColl's version is better than the others I know, with a beautiful tune and fine lyrics.I do hope doesterr or some other helpful person will find the record and write down the lyrics. Otherwise, I can write down the words I got, and hope somebody will help me fill in the gaps.Please, don't surrender! Thank you. Roberto

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lord Thomas & Fair Annie
From: Susan of DT
Date: 15 Mar 00 - 07:40 PM

Sorry Roberto - your name blended in at the end of your posting. In any event, both child #62 and #73 are in the DT. The Brown Girl is on Classic Scots Ballads and Fair Annie is on Blood Red Roses. MacColl recorded loads of marvelous songs.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lord Thomas & Fair Annie
From: Stewie
Date: 16 Mar 00 - 01:15 AM

Roberto, I too have the Folkways FG 3509 album from 1961. It has a booklet with texts for all the ballads except 'The Brown Girl'! All he has for that is a note that Child published 8 texts and that his (MacColl's) version was learned from his mother in fragmentary form and collated with stanzas in Greig's 'Traditional Ballads and Ballad Airs'. Why don't you post what you have and others may be able to help you out - I am sure some 'Catters' have access to Greig which, unfortunately, I do not. That would be easier all round if you have much of it already written out.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lord Thomas & Fair Annie
From: Stewie
Date: 16 Mar 00 - 01:56 AM

Dave, when you find your CD, can you let me have the details - title, catalogue number. I've been to the Smithsonian site, but I can't find reference to it.

Thanks, Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lord Thomas & Fair Annie
From: GUEST,Roberto
Date: 20 Mar 00 - 03:59 AM

These are the words I can get, and the ones I can't. If someone can help me to correct and complete the lyrics, many thanks. I'm aware it looks like the transcription of a Sumerian text, but English is not my mother language, nor it is Scottish. So, forgive me and help. Thank you. Roberto

Lord Thomas he was a very fine man
...
Fair Annie she was the fairest woman
That ever the sun shone on

Lord Thomas he spoke a word in jest
And Annie took it ill
He said, "I'll marry ... no ... maidens
Without my parents' will."

Then Thomas he has hame to his mither
And bowed low doon to his knee
"Oh will I wed the nut-brown maid
Or shall I wed Fair Annie?"

"The nut-brown maid has cows and yowes
Fair Annie she has nane
And for my blessings, my son Thomas
I pray you let her alane."

Then oot it spak his little sister
Stood by her nurse's knee
"O marry ye your Fair Annie
And let the other ane be."

"Her cow(?) may die in her covin(?)
And her oxen(?) may droon in the myre
But marry ye your Fair Annie
You'll get your heart's desire."

"Her cow(?) may die in her covin(?)
And her oxen(?)may hang in the pleugh
But marry ye your Fair Annie
And you'll get gear anew(?)."

Lord Thomas he's gane to Annie's bow'r-door
And tirled low(?) at the pin
Ne'er ready e'er was than Fair Annie
To let Lord Thomas in

"It's will ye come to my wedding, Annie
The morn's to be the day."
"It's never I fit", said Fair Annie
"Unless the bride I be."

Lord Thomas he gaed up the high highway
And Annie she gaed doon the glen
And Annie shone as fair her lane
As Thomas and a' his men

"O where got ye the water, Annie
That washed you so clean?"
"I got it by my mither's bow'r-door
Beneath a marble stane."

"Oh ye maun ... my ... , Annie
And you maun ... my love
Until my wife hae born a son
And that will endure love."

"I will na ... your ... , Lord Thomas
I will na ... your love
But ye maun gae to your nut-brown bride
... constant(?) prove."

Then he ... hame ... Fair Annie
His heart ... bleed
But ere the hour o' twal o'clock
Fair Annie she was deid

Then Thomas he's gane to Annie's bow'r-door
And tirled low(?) at the pin
Ne'er ready e'er was than Annie's mither
To let Lord Thomas in

"Oh deal ye weel at my love's lyke
The white breid and the wine
And ere the morn at this time
You'll deal as weel at mine."

The ane was laid in Mary's kirk
The other in Mary's choir
And fae the ane there sprang a birk
Fae the other there sprang a briar

And now brave Mudcatters a', do your best!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lord Thomas & Fair Annie
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 20 Mar 00 - 06:16 AM

G'day,
Not the version you want, but I posted this yesterday.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: Lyr Add: LORD THOMAS AND FAIR ANNIE (from MacColl)
From: Stewie
Date: 20 Mar 00 - 09:22 PM

Here you go, Roberto. This is my best shot. Hopefully, some knowlegeable 'Catters will make any necessary corrections. I tried to follow MacColl's pronunciations and, where possible, checked spellings with glossaries in Child and Buchan & Hall. At other points, I put what it sounded like - eg, 'yin' (meaning the other one) could be 'y'ane'. Whatever, I hope the transcription is good enough for your purposes.

All the best, Stewie.

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 maiden
Or shall I wed fair Annie?' (2)

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

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

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

'A cow may dee in her coven
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 a 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 alane
As Thomas and a' his men (2)

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

'Oh ye maun wear my hat, 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 hat, Lord Thomas
I winna wear your love
But ye maun git your nut brown maid
Tae her ye constant prove' (2)

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

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

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

The yen was laid in Mary's kirk
And the other in Mary's choir
And fae the yin there sprung a bark
Fae the other there sprung a briar (2)

Source: Ewan MacColl 'The English and Scottish Popular Ballads (Child Ballads) Folkways Records FG 3509.

Subject: Lyr Add: LORD THOMAS AND FAIR ANNIE (from MacColl)
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Mar 00 - 04:19 AM

I hadn't checked the way my previous message with my transcription turned out. I had tried to use the < and > symbols, but the text has practically vanished. I thank Stewie very much. In many cases I think is transcription is right and mine is not, but in some cases mine can be useful too. We are very near the complete text. One more pull and home we go!

LORD THOMAS AND FAIR ANNIE

Lord Thomas he was a very fine man
...
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 ... no ... maidens
Withoot my parents will,
Withoot my parents will

Then Thomas he has hame to his mither
And bow'd low doon to his knee
"Oh will I wed the nut-brown maid
Or shall I wed Fair Annie?
Or shall I wed Fair Annie?"

"The nut-brown maid has cows and yowes
Fair Annie she has nane
And for my blessings my son Thomas
I pray you let her alane,
I pray you let her alane."

Then oot it spak his little sister
Stood by her nurse's knee,
"O marry ye your Fair Annie
And let the other ane be,
And let the other ane be."

"Her cow may die in her covin
... oxen may droon in the myre
But marry ye your Fair Annie
You'll get your heart's desire,
You'll get your heart's desire."

"Her cow may die in her covin
And her oxen hang in the pleugh
But marry ye your Fair Annie
And you'll get gear anew,
And you'll get gear anew."

Lord Thomas he's gane to Annie's bow'r-door
And tirled low at the pin
Ne'er ready e'er was than Fair Annie
To let Lord Thomas in,
To let Lord Thomas in

"It's will ye come to my wedding, Annie
The morn's to be the day."
"It's never I fit," said Fair Annie,
"Unless the bride I be,
Unless the bride I be."

Lord Thomas he gaed up the high highway
And Annie she gaed doon the glen
And Annie shone as fair her lane
As Thomas and a' his men,
As Thomas and a' his men

"O whare got ye the water, Annie
That washed you so clean?"
"I got it by my mither's bow'r-door
Beneath a marble stane,
Beneath a marble stane".

"Oh ye maun ... my heart, Annie
And ye maun ... my love
Until my wife has born a son
And that will endure love,
And that will endure love."

"I will na ... your heart, Lord Thomas
I will na ... your love
But ... gae to your nut-brown maid
... constant prove"

Then he sent hame ... Fair Annie
His heart ... sair bleed
But ere the hour o' twal o' clock
Fair Annie she was deid,
Fair Annie she was deid

Then Thomas he's gane to Annie's bow'r-door
And tirled low at the pin
Ne'er ready was than Annie's mither
To let Lord Thomas in,
To let Lord Thomas in

"Oh deal ye weel at my lover's lyke
The white bried and the wine
And ere the morn at this time
You'll deal as weel at mine,
You'll deal as weel at mine."

The ane was laid in Mary's Kirk
The other in Mary's choir
And fae the ane there sprang a birk
Fae the other there sprang a briar,
Fae the other there sprang a briar.

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 22-Apr-03.

Subject: Lyr Add: LORD THOMAS AND FAIR ANNIE (from MacColl)
From: Stewie
Date: 21 Mar 00 - 08:47 PM

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.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lord Thomas & Fair Annie
From: GUEST,J. R. Patrick
Date: 17 May 00 - 08:21 PM

Hey! Thanks to all! I recently acquired a copy of Child Ballads vol.1 from Smithsonian and was searching for lyrics to Lord Thomas and Fair Annie. Lo and behold! Here you are. Thanks to Roberto for asking, and Stewie for translating. I don't know what a covin is either but this seems to be the closest version to MacColl's that I have found yet.

Subject: ADD Version: Lord Thomas (Child #73)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 04:14 AM

Roberto requested this cheery song in another thread,.
-Joe Offer-

Lord Thomas

Oh mother, oh mother, go riddle this course,
Go riddle it all in one
That I may go and marry fair Ellen
Or bring the brown girl home.

I've already riddled this course, she said,
I've riddled it all to one,
But I'll be secret with every blessing,
Go bring the brown girl home.

Go saddle me up my little gray steed
And bring it unto me,
That I may go and marry fair Ellen
Or bring the brown girl home.

He rode and he rode to the head of the hail,
He knocked most clatters could ring,
But none was so willing as fair Ellen
To arise and let him in.

Lord Thomas, Lord Thomas, Lord Thomas, she said,
What news have you brought to me?
I've come to invite, to invite you,
To invite you to my wedding.

Oh mother, oh mother, come riddle this course,
Come riddle it all in one,
That I may go to Lord Thomas's wedding
Ruther'n to tarry at home.

I've already riddled this course, she said,
I've riddled it all in one,
My daughter shall not go to Lord Thomas's wedding,
But she shall tarry at home.

I'll venture my life, I'll venture my death,
I'll venture anything may come,
But I am going to Lord Thomas's wedding
Ruther'n to tarry at home.

She dressed herself in roses red
And the wedding girl all in green,
And every city that they passed through
They was taken to be some queen.

They rode and they rode to the head of the hall,
They knocked most clatters could ring,
But none was so willing as Lord Thomas
To arise and let them in.

He took her by her little white hand
And led her across the hail,
And seated her down at the end of the table
Among the ladies all.

Lord Thomas, Lord Thomas, Lord Thomas, she said,
Your bride looks wonderful brown,
When you could have married the fairest skin lady
That ever the sun shined on.

The brown girl had a little white knife,
The point it was wonderful sharp,
When she saw no one was enviewing her
She pierced fair Ellen's heart.

Lord Thomas, Lord Thomas, Lord Thomas, she said,
Are you blind? Why caint you see,
Why caint you see my own heart's blood
Is a-flowing away from me?

He took the brown girl by the hand
And led her across the hail,
And with a sword he cut her head off
And dashed it against the wall.

He swung the sword down toward the earth
And then back toward his breast,
And said here is the end of three lovers,
Lord send our souls to rest.

Oh father, oh father, go dig our grave,
Go dig it wide and deep,
And place fair Ellen all in my arms
And the brown girl at my feet.


Sung by Mrs. Dorothy Freeman, Natural Dam, Arkansas, Dec 14, 1941.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lord Thomas & Fair Annie (Child #73)
From: Roberto
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 04:41 AM

Thank you very much, Joe. A little problem caused by the scanner: "hall" becomes "hail" sometimes. In the second stanza, Mrs. Dorthe Freman sings "I've riddled it all in (not: to) one". Thanks again. R

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lord Thomas & Fair Annie (Child #73)
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 11:45 AM

Since this thread is back, I might just answer one question left over from four years ago. The mysterious covin in the MacColl collation (verse 6) is really calving. He seems to have have taken that verse from Bell Robertson's text (Greig-Duncan Folk Song Collection, II, 74); the final word of the verse would then be enow, not anew. The confusion there may have arisen from MacColl's altering the pronounciation of the word to make it fit better with his idea that Bell's "plough" ought to be pronounced "pleugh".

MacColl's natural accent was not Scottish, and he sometimes over-compensated a little when performing Scottish material, making it difficult to be quite sure what he was singing. This can also lead transcribers to try to represent his pronounciation instead of the word he was actually using; Bell Robertson, for example, wrote down most of her song texts herself, and her spelling is often a useful guide to the way she herself would pronounce the text (she didn't sing); thus, she appears to rhyme "coos" and "ewes" where MacColl has instead gone for "cows" and "yowes".

Verses 4-17 (see Stewie's final transcription above) are from Bell's text (perhaps also verse 3). MacColl has made changes of details, of course, and omitted some text, beside changing Bell's Sweet Willie to Lord Thomas throughout. Interestingly, the word really was "hat" rather than "heart"; there is a preceding half-verse, omitted by MacColl, which would have explained it:

Willie put his hat on Annie's head
In the middle o' the kirk.