The Brown Girl

"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 rung
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's 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 he walked out at the door
"Should I go to Thomas' 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
Tarry all day at home."

"Mother, I know my friends will be there
And also all my foes
But if life spares me till tomorrow morning
To Lord Thomas' wedding I'll go."

She rode, she rode to Thomas' house
And she knocked at the bell and it rung
There was none so ready as Thomas himself
Thomas he did come

He taken her by the lily-white hand
He led her across the hall
He set her down by his bride's left side
Among the ladies all

"Thomas, Thomas," Ellen said
"Your bride looks wonderful brown
You once coulda 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 in her heart

"What's the matter, what's the matter?" Thomas said
"What makes you look so pale?
You always look so red and rosy
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
Led 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 handle on the floor
He hollered out, "Oh, boys, boys
Was there ever such a weddin' before?"

He hollered out, "Boys, boys
Dig our graves so deep
Cover us up with marble stones
Marble stones so neat."

He hollered out, "Boys, boys
Paint our coffin black
Bury fair Ellender in my arms
The brown girl at my back."