Ed de Moel

Child Ballads - Lyrics

Child 75
Lord Lovel
Version E

Communicated by J.F. Campbell, Esq., as learned from the singing of an English gentleman, about 1850.

Narrative

1   'Now fare ye well, Lady Oonzabel,
For I must needs be gone,
To visit the king of fair Scotland,
Oh I must be up and ride.'
2   So he called unto him his little foot-page,
To saddle his milk-white steed;
      Hey down, hey down, hey derry, hey down,
How I wish my Lord Lovel good speed!
3   He had not been in fair Scotland,
Not passing half a year,
When a lover-like thought came into his head,
Lady Oonzabel he would go see her.
4   So he called unto him his little foot-page,
To saddle his milk-white steed;
      Hey down, hey down, hey derry, hey down,
How I wish my Lord Lovel good speed.
5   He had not been in fair England,
Not passing half a day,
When the bells of the high chappel did ring,
And they made a loud sassaray.
6   He asked of an old gentleman
Who was sitting there all alone,
Why the bells of the high chappel did ring,
And the ladies were making a moan.
7   'Oh, the king's fair daughter is dead,' said he;
'Her name's Lady Oonzabel;
And she died for the love of a courteous young knight,
And his name it is Lord Lovel.'
* * * * *
8   He caused the bier to be set down,
The winding sheet undone,
And drawing forth his rapier bright,
Through his own true heart did it run.
9   Lady Oonzabel lies in the high chappel,
Lord Lovel he lies in the quier;
And out of the one there grew up a white rose,
And out of the other a brier.
10   And they grew, and they grew, to the high chappel top;
They could not well grow any higher;
And they twined into a true lover's knot,
So in death they are joined together.

This page most recently updated on 13-Mar-2011, 12:29:55.
Return to main index