Lord Lovel stood at his castle gate,
A-combing his milk-white steed
Along comes Lady Nancy Bell,
Wishing her lover good speed
Wishing her lover good speed

"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
Strange countries for to see."

"And Will you return, Lord Lovel?" she said,
"Oh, will you return to me?"
"In a year or two or three
I'll return to my Lady Nancy
Return to my Lady Nancy."

He hadn't been gone but a year and a day,
Strange countries for to see,
When a stranger thought came to his head
To go to his Lady Nancy
Go to his Lady Nancy

He rode and he rode upon his white horse,
Till he came to his town
And there he heard the old church bell,
And the people all mourning round
People all mourning round

"Is someone dead?" Lord Lovel said,
A-gazing on the spire
"It's Nancy, Lady Nancy's died
For a discourteous squire
For a discourteous squire

He ordered "Open up the grave
And pull the shroud down low
Nancy died for me today
I'll die for her tomorrow
I'll die for her tomorrow

And from her grave grew a red rose
And from his heart a briar
They grew and grew till they reached the church top
And there could grow no higher
And there they twined in a true lover's knot
For lovers to admire.