George Collins- Presnell (NC) 1951 Warner
[From: Traditional American Folk Songs from the Anne & Frank Warner Collection; Anne and Frank Warner, Syracuse University Press, 1984.
Frank Proffitt most likely learned his version from Uncle Monroe, a distant relation. Cordelia's Dad covered this version on their CD Comet, with fiddler Becky Miller.]
George Collins- As sung by Lee Monroe Presnell (Beech Mountain, NC) 1951. Learned from his mother, a Harmon. Collected by Frank and Anne Warner
George Collins rode home one cold winter night,
George Collins rode home so fine,
George Collins rode home one cold winter night,
Fallen sick and died.
Mary was setting in yonders town,
A-sewing her silks so fine,
But when she heard of George was dead,
She laid her silks aside.
She followed him up, she followed him down
She followed him to his grave.
Down on her bended knees she fell,
She screamed and cried and prayed.
"O daughter, O daughter what makes you weep so,
There's more young men than George?"
"Mother O mother George is got my heart,
And now he's dead and gone.
Oh don't you hear that lonesome dove.
A-sailing through the pines
She's mourning for the loss of her own true love
Just like I mourn for mine.