Geordie- Webb (NC) pre1940 Brown Collection
[From: Brown Collection of NC Folklore, Vol. 4. The information for this version is confused and incomplete, something not usually found in the Brown Collection. The title Geordie does not match the transcription, where it's Georgia. Since Georgia is usually sung Georgie to rhyme, it's hard to say why the title is Geordie (maybe generic?) or what it should be.
In the notes it says, "If all the variations occurring in the six stanzas are considered. . . " which means the stanzas are not included. What? It would take some work to discover where they are at this point.
Fortunately I found the recording in the Abrams collection: http://contentdm.library.appstate.edu/docapp/abrams/field_recordings/georgie.html
R. Matteson 2013]
38. Geordie (Child 209)
For the question of the origin of this ballad and its currency, see Child's headnote and BSM 76, adding to the references there given North Carolina (FSRA 37), the Ozarks (OFS I 161-5), Indiana (SFLQ V 170-1), Illinois (JAFL LX 245-6), and Michigan (BSSM 317). Our collection has but one full text, and part of a text as sung by Miss Hattie McNeill of Ferguson, Wilkes county, probably in 1922.
38(2) 'Geordie.' Sung by Miss Pearle Webb. From the previous recording of Dr. W. A. Abrams at Boone, August 8, 1940. There is a resemblance with some 'Barbara Allen' versions.
Scale: Mode III, plagal. Tonal Center: f. Structure: abac (2,2,2,2) 1= aa1 (4,4).
38(3) 'Geordie.' (2nd version) Sung by Miss Pearle Webb. From the previous recording of Dr. W. A. Abrams, Boone, August 8, 1940. If all the variations occurring in the six stanzas are considered, it will be found that only one measure of the first version, the seventh, does not occur in the second version. This takes somewhat away from the importance usually attached to a second version. There is, however, an interesting rhythmic shift in the fifth stanza as given for measures 6-7. The tune for the first stanza serves without change for the second and third.
Scale: Mode III, plagal. Tonal Center: f. Structure: abab1 (2,2,2,2) = aa1 (4,4).
Georgie (text) Pearl Webb- June 26, 1904
1. As I went over London's bridge
So early in the morning
And there I spied a pretty fair maid
Lamenting over Georgie.
2. Go bridle up my milk white steed
Go treat him gaily
Until I ride the Oxenshires office
To plead for the life of Georgia.
3. She rode till came to the Oxenshires office
So early in the morning;
She tumbled down on her bended knee,
Saying, "Spare me the life of Georgie."
4. There was an old man stepped up to her,
He looked as he was pleasing,
"Oh pretty fair maid, if it's not [1] in my power,
"I'll spare you the life of Georgie."
5. The judge looked over his left shoulder,
He looked as [if] he was angry;
He says, "Now pretty maid you've come too late,
For Georgie he's condemned already."
6. if Georgie ever tampled on the King's highway,
Or did he murder any,
He stole sixteen of the milk-white steeds,
And sold them in Gillarmy. [2]
7. Georgie's hung in [3] a white silk rope
Such ropes there were not many,
Because he was of the royal blood
And loved by a virtuous lady.
1. if it's in my power.
2. I guess
3. in (with)