George Collins (Child 85)
[This is a version of Child 85. I've made a recording of George Collins (Child 85) playing Nathan Hicks c. 1934 dulcimer- Listen: [George Colon] Performers: Richard L. Matteson Jr. -dulcimer, with Kara Pleasants- vocal, and Zach Matteson- fiddle, in December 2011. Recorded by Bob Hitchcock Dec. 2011.
R. Matteson 2014]
George Collins come home one cold winter night,
George Collins come, so fine,
George Collins come home one cold winter night,
And taken sick and died.
To see Miss May[1] in yonder's window,
Sewing her silk, so fine,
But when she heard that George was dead,
She laid her silk aside.
She followed him up, she followed him down,
She followed him to his grave.
And then, she fell upon her knees,
She wept, she mourned, she prayed.
She walked down to the coffin, threw off the lid,
He was dressed in linen so fine
Oh! I want to kiss his dear pale face
For I know he'll never kiss mine.
Oh daughter, dear daughter, what makes you weep?
For there's more young men than George,
Oh mother, oh mother George won my heart,
And now he's dead and gone.
To see that lonesome turtle dove
Sitting in yonder pine
It's mourning for his own true love
Why can't I morn for mine ?
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1. usually Mary