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

"O where are you going, Lord Lovell?" she said
"O where are you going?" said she
"I'm going, my dear Lady Nancy Bell
Strange countries more to see
Strange countries more to see."

"O when will you be back, Lord Lovell?" she said
"When will you be back?" said she
"In  a year or two or three at the most
I'll return to my Lady Nancy
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 will see
Lady Nancy Bell he will see

He rode and he rode on his milk-white steed
'Til he reached London Town
And there he heard St. Varner's bell
And the people all mourning 'round
And the people all mourning 'round

"Is anyone dead?" Lord Lovell he said
"Is anyone dead?" said he
"The lady is dead," the people replied
"And they call her Lady Nancy
They call her Lady Nancy."

He ordered the grave to be opened forthwith
And the shroud to be folded down
And then he kissed her clay-cold lips
'Til the tears came trickling down
The tears came trickling down

Lady Nancy she died as she might be today
Lord Lovell he died tomorrow
Lady Nancy she died of pure, pure grief
Lord Lovell he died of sorrow
Lord Lovell he died of sorrow

Lady Nancy was laid in the auld churchyaird
Lord Lovell very close by her
Out of her breast there grew a red rose
And out of his back a briar
Out of his back a briar

There they grew and they grew 'til they reached the church top
Until they couldn't grow up any higher
There they twined in a true lover's knot
Which all true lovers do admire
Which all true lovers do admire