George Collins- Emry Arthur (KY-WS) 1930 Pmt REC
[From Paramount recording 3222, made in Grafton, WC, 1930. Arthur, born and raised in Kentucky, made his first recordings in 1928, when her recorded a version of Man of Constant Sorrow. The success of these recording led to additional recordings in 1929 which due to the depression sold poorly. Arthur moved to Wisconsin and worked for the Wisconsin Chair Company, owners of Paramount. He arranged sessions there, recording George Collins, which also sold poorly.
R. Matteson 2015]
George Collins- Emry Arthur and Della Hatfield (duet); Jan. 1930. Paramount, recorded in Grafton, Wisconsin.
George Collins drove home one cold winter night
George Collins drove home so fine.
George Collins drove home one cold winter night
Was taken sick and died.
His little sweet Nel was all alone,
Sewing her silk so fine.
But when she heard that George was dead
She laid her silk aside.
George was the only man she loved,
For him she would have died.
But when they brought the coffin in
She hung her head and cried.
Lay down the coffin, take off the lid
Lay back the linen so fine,
And let me kiss his cold clay lips
For I know he'll never kiss mine
Oh daughter, oh daughter why do you weep
There's more young men than one?"
"Oh mother, oh mother George has my heart,
And now he's dead and gone."[1]
Look up look down that lonesome road
Hang down your head and cry,
The best of friends are bound to part
So why not you and I.
Oh don't you see that lonesome dove
It's flying from pine to pine?
It's mourning for his own true-love
Just like I mourn for mine.
1. unclear