♪I've got my love to keep me warm♫

Well, I messed up. I know I was supposed to post once a week. Well, last week, I went to post, and the internet went out. Then, I went out of town for a few days, and here it is almost to the end of this week with only one post! *sigh* I will get motivated sometime, I promise.

I'm so glad I have Billie Holiday keeping me company and reminding me that love does keep one warm. We need all the help we can get here in Wisconsin with temperatures supposed to sit at -15○ F tomorrow. BRRR! Now that's what I call chilly! (P.S. That was supposed to be a degree symbol, but I don't know how to make one.)

I was reading through  Flora Thompson's Lark Rise to Candleford book the other day, when I came across a charming old folk song. It's known simply as "Lord Lovel". I do not know from whence it originated, but I found it quite charming. Unfortunately, this makes writing history about the author rather difficult. It was probably an oral tradition for so long that even those who knew it were unsure of its true origins. It is sad to think that we have no or few oral traditions left in our culture. I would love to snuggle in front of the fire and listen to an elder hand down the stories and histories his/her elders had given him/her. Well, I can cry for our lost traditions elsewhere. So, without further ado, Lord Lovel.

Lord Lovel

Lord Lovel he stood at his castle gate,
A-combing his milk-white steed;
When along came Lady Nancy Bell,
A-wishing her lover good speed,
A-wishing her lover good speed.

"O where are you going, Lord Lovel?" she said,
"O where are you going?" said she;
"I'm going, my dear Nancy Bell,
Strange countries for to see."

"O when will you be back, Lord Lovel?" she said,
"O when will you be back?" said she.
"In  a year or two or three at the least
I'll return to my Lady Nancy."

He hadn't been gone but a year and a day,
Strange countries for to see,
When a languishing thought came into his mind,
Lady Nancy Bell he must see.

He rode and he rode upon his white steed,
Till he came to London Town;
And there he heard St. Varner's bell,
And the people all mourning round.

"Is anybody dead?" Lord Lovel he said,
"Is anybody dead?" said he.
"A lord's daughter's dead," a lady replied,
"And some call her Lady Nancy."

He ordered the grave to be opened forthwith
And the shroud to be folded down;
And there he kissed the clay-cold lips,
Till the tears came trinkling down.

Lady Nancy she died as she might be to-day
Lord Lovel he died to-morrow
And out of her bosom there grew a red rose
And out of Lord Lovel's a briar

They grew and they grew till they reached the church top
And there they couldn't grow any higher
And there they twined in a true lover's knot
Which true lovers always admire.