Subject: Lyr Req: Hedy West's The Brown Girl #73
From:
Roberto
Date: 01 Oct 05 - 03:26 PM
Please, help with this recording. I can't get a line in the 8th stanza, and I'd like a general check to the whole transcription. Thanks. R
The Brown Girl
Hedy West, Vanguard VRS-9124, 1963. Hedy West wrote: - My favorite of the older ballads. It's one that Grandma rarely sang when I was a child. My sister Ann would pester Grandma to sing The Brown Girl. Grandma would tell her, "It's too sad".
O mother, O mother – Thomas said
As he walked out at the door
Should I marry Fair Ellender
Or go fetch the Brown Girl home?
The Brown Girl she has house and land
Ellen she has none
Therefore I advise you, Thomas, my son
Go fetch the Brown Girl home
He rode, he rode to Ellen's house
He knocked at the bell and it rang
There was none so ready as Ellen herself
Ellender did come
What news, what news – Ellen said
What news to me do you bring? –
I've come to invite you to my wedding
Tomorrow the day it'll be
Sad news, sad news – Ellen said
Sad news to me I presume
I intended to be the bride myself
And you to be the groom
Mother, mother – Ellen said
As she walked out at the door
Should I go to Thomas's wedding
Or tarry all day at home?
Ellen, you know, your friends will be there
And also all your foes
Therefore I advise you, Ellen, my daughter
To tarry all day at home
Mother, I know my friends will be there
And also all my foes
But .. me .. tomorrow morning
To Lord Thomas's wedding I'll go
She rode, she rode to Thomas's house
And she knocked at the bell and it rang
There was none so ready as Thomas himself
Thomas he did come
He taken her by the lily-white hand
He lead her 'cross the hall
He set down by his bride's left side
Among the ladies all
Thomas, Thomas – Ellen said
Your bride looks wonderful brown
You once could have had as fair a lady
As ever the sun shined on
Yes Ellen, yes Ellen – Thomas said
My bride is wonderful brown
I have more love for your little finger
Than the Brown Girl's house and land
Now the Brown Girl had a little penknife
That was so keen and sharp
She turned around to Fair Ellender
And pierced it into her heart
What's the matter, what's the matter? – Thomas said
What makes you look so pale?
You always look so red and rose
What makes your color fail?
Are you blind, are you blind? – Ellen said
Or can't you very well see?
Don't you see my own heart's blood
Come a-tricklin' down my knee?
He taken the Brown Girl by the hand
Lead her across the floor
Cut her head short off with his sword
And kicked it against the door
Put the point of the sword to his breast
The hand all down on the floor
He hollered out – O boys, boys
Was there ever such a wedding before?
He hollered out – Boys, boys
Dig our grave so deep
Cover us up with marble stone
Marble stone so neat
He hollered out – Boys, boys
Paint our coffin black
Bury Fair Ellender in my arms
The Brown Girl at my back
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