George Collins- Knight (VA) pre1936 Scarborough D and E
[From: A Song Catcher, Scarborough, 1937. Her notes follow. All versions are pre-1936 when Scarborough died. Bronson usually give a date of 1931, without documentation.
The E version is sung by I assume a member of the same family-- the informant is Cecil Knight. He sang the first stanza which appears at the bottom of this page.
R. Matteson 2012, 2015]
Miss M. C. Lawrence, of Blue Ridge Industrial School, sent in the following, which she had got for me from Mrs. Piny Knight, who had recalled it after my visit to her. This was written down by Lily Knight.
George Collins- As sung by Piny Knight (VA) pre1936 Scarborough D
George Collins wrote[1] home one cold winter night,
George Collins wrote home so fine,
George Collins wrote home one cold winter night,
Was taken sick and died.
Miss Mary was sitting in her parlor sewing,
Sewing her silks so fine,
But when she heard her George was dead,
She laid her silks aside.
She followed him up, she followed him down,
She followed him to his grave,
And there she waste and there she mourned
Because her George was dead'
Lay back the lead, lay back the linen,
Lay back the silk so fine,
And let me kiss his cold white cheeks
For I'm sure he'll never kiss mine.
Oh, daughter, oh, daughter, what makes you cry so?
There's plenty more boys, you know,
Oh, Mother, oh, Mother, George has my heart
Now he's dead and gone.
Oh don't you see that little white dove
That flies from pine to pine?
He's mourning for his own true love
Just like I mourn for mine.
1. Rode
______________________
George Collins- As sung by Cecil Knight (VA) pre1936 Scarborough E
George Collins rode home one cold winter's night,
George Collins rode home so far,
George Collins rode home one cold winter night,
And taken sick and died.