George Collins- Frank Proffitt (NC) 1939 Brown 4B
[From: The Brown Collection, Volume 4, (music) version B; not the same as the B version in volume 2. Proffitt's version was from Lee Monroe Presnell, a member of the extended Hick's family and is similar to Nathan Hick's version (Nathan was his father-in-law). [Listen: Frank Proffitt]
R. Matteson 2012, 2015]
28. Lady Alice (Child 85) [This B version is from Vol. 4 music and doesn't correspond to the B version in Vol. 2]
B. 'George Collins.' Sung by Frank Proffitt. Recorded at Sugar Grove, Watauga county, on July 24, 1939. There are two recordings, but only one slight textual variation. The singer sings "drove" instead of "rode." For the musical variations, see below. [Proffitt learned this text from Uncle Monroe, Lee Monroe Presnell, a distant relation; The melody is similar to father-in-law Nathan Hicks' version- see B(I)]
For melodic relationship cf. *TBV 582, No. 25E, measures 1 and 5. Scale: Hexatonic (6), plagal. Tonal Center: f. Structure: abab1 (2,2,2,2) aa1 (4,4).
[banjo]
George Collins rid home one cold winter night,
George Collins rode home so fine,
George Collins rode home one cold winter night,
He took down sick and died.
Now Mary was seated in yonders fair town,
A sewing her silks so fine,
But when she heard that George was dead,
She laid her fine silk aside.
[Banjo]
She follered him up, she follered him down
She follered him to his grave.
And there upon her bended knee,
She cried and screamed and prayed.
{banjo]
Oh daughter, dear daughter why do you weep so,
There's more young men than one?
Oh no, no, George has my heart,
And now he's dead and gone.
[banjo]
Oh don't you hear that turtle dove.
Way off in yonders lone, pine
A-mourning for his own true love
Just like I mourn for mine.
George Collins rid home one cold winter night,
George Collins rode home so fine,
George Collins rid home one cold winter night,
He took down sick and died.