George Collins- McChristian (AR) 1958 Parler A
[From Ozark Folk Songs online. Collected by Gladys McChristian for Mary C. Parler, Reel 245 Item 13. Transcribed by Frances Majors.
R. Matteson 2015]
George Collins- Sung by Gladys McChristian Huntsville, Arkansas July 16, 1958
George Collins went home on a cold winter night,
George Collins went home so fine;
George Collins went home on a cold winter night,
He taken sick and died.
And when little Mary heard of this,
She wept, she mourned, she cried;
And when little Mary heard of this,
She laid her silk aside.
She followed him up, she followed him down,
She followed him to his grave;
She fell right down on her bended knee,
She wept, she mourned, she prayed.
"Take out the coffin, take off the lid,
Lay back the linen so fine,
And let me kiss his cold pale lips,
For I'm sure he'll never kiss mine."
"Oh, daughter, oh, daughter, what makes you so?
There's plenty more boys besides George."
"Oh, mother, oh, mother, George has my heart,
And now he's dead and gone."
"I'd rather be like some little dove,
That flies from vine to vine;
Now let me kiss his cold pale lips,
For I knew he'll never kiss mine."