Lord Lovel

[Verse 1]
Lord Lovel he stood at his castle gate
A-combin' his milk-white steed
When up came Lady Nancybell
To wish her lover good speed, good speed
To wish her lover good speed

[Verse 2]
"Where are you goin', Lord Lovel?" she said
"Oh, where are you goin'?" said she
"I'm goin', my Lady Nancybell
Strange countries for to see, to see
Strange countries for to see"

[Verse 3]
"When will you be back, Lord Lovel?" she said
"Oh, when will you come back?" said she
"In a year or two or three at the most
I'll return to my fair Nancy, Nancy
I'll return to my fair Nancy"

[Verse 4]
But he hadn't been gone a year and a day
Strange countries for to see
Whеn languishing thoughts came into his head
Lady Nancybell hе'd go see, go see
Lady Nancybell he'd go see

[Verse 5]
So he rode and he rode on his milk-white steed
Till he came to London town
And there he heard those parish bells ring
And the people go mournin' around, around
And the people go mournin' around

[Verse 6]
"Oh, what is the matter?" Lord Lovel he said
"Oh, what is the matter?" said he
"A lord's lady's dead," a woman she said
"And some calls her Lady Nancy, Nancy
And some calls her Lady Nancy"

[Verse 7]
He ordered the grave to be opened wide
And the shroud he turned down
And there he kissed her clay cold lips
Till the tears came tricklin' down, 'lin' down
Till the tears came tricklin' down

[Verse 8]
Lady Nancy she died as it might be today
Lord Lovel he died as tomorrow
Lady Nancy she died out of pure, pure grief
Lord Lovel he died out of sorrow, of sorrow
Lord Lovel he died out of sorrow

[Verse 9]
Lady Nancy was laid in St. Francis's Church
Lord Lovel was laid in the choir
And out of her bosom there grew a red rose
And out of her lover's a briar, a briar
And out of her lover's a briar

[Verse 10]
They grew and they grew to the church steeple-top
And then they could grow no higher
So there they entwined in a true lover's knot
For all true lovers to admire, admire
For all true lovers to admire