Fair Ellender

G C G Father, oh father, come riddle to me D G D Come riddle it all as one G C G And tell me whether to marry fair Ellen G C G Or bring the brown girl home The brown girl she has house and land Fair Ellender she has none And there I charge you with the blessing To bring the brown girl home He got on his horse and he rode and he rode He rode 'til he came to her home And no one as ready as fair Ellen herself To rise and bid him in What news have you brought unto me, Lord Thomas? What news have you brought unto me? I've come to invite you to my wedding A sorrowful wedding to be Mother, oh mother, would you go or stay? Fair child do as you please I'm afraid if you go, you'll never return To see your dear mother any more She turned around all dressed in white Her sisters dressed in green And every town that she rode through Took her to be some queen They rode and they rode 'til they came to the hall She pulled on the bell and it rang And no one so ready as Lord Thomas himself To rise and welcome her in He taking her by her lily white hand And leading her through the hall Saying, "Fifty gay ladies are here today But here is the flower of all" The brown girl she was standing by With knife ground keen and sharp Between the long ribs and the short She pierced fair Ellender's heart Lord Thomas he was standing by With knife ground keen and sharp Between the long ribs and the short He pierced his own bride's heart By placing the handle against the wall The point against his breast Saying, "This is the end of three true lovers God send us all to rest" Father, oh father, go dig my grave Go dig it wide and deep And place fair Ellender in my arms The brown girl at my feet