Georgia- Larkin (IL) 1868 Musick JOAFL
[From The Old Album of William A. Larkin published by Ruth Ann Musick in The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 60, No. 237 (Jul. - Sep., 1947), pp. 201-251. As far as I know this is the third oldest collected version (via a written manuscript) in the US/Canada, dated 1868. Belden A, from James Ashby's MS book, compiled sometime after the Civil War, is of a similar vintage. Both seem to be related to the British broadside, "George of Oxford," printed by Child in the Appendix to No. 209 (iv, 141 f.).
R. Matteson 2013]
Georgia [footnote 47; see below] No 4Ist; Spelling and punctuation kept as original; Written by Wm A Larkins, April the 28th, 1868.
1. As i crossed over poland bridge
It was all on a misty morning
O there i spied a pretty little miss
A lamenting for her Georgia.
2. Go bring me up my milk white steed
My bridal rains make ready
I will go she said i will see lord judge
I will pleade for the life of georgia
3. The judge stood looking over his left shoulder
A looking as though he was sorry
Oh my dear madam you have come to late
For your georgia is to hang to morry
4. As georgia was walking up and down
A taking his leave of many
A taking his leave of his own true love
Whitch grieved him the worst of any
5. As georgia was walking up and down
A taking his leave of many
If your own confessions will hang you
May the lord have mercy on you
6. I never robed on the kings high way
I never murdered any
But i stolde sixteen of my kings best steeds
And i solde them in bohamy
7. Oh georgia was hung with a golden chain
Sutch links you will find not many
Because he was of a humble birth
And was loved by a royal lady
8. I wish i were on younders hill
Where i have had kisses plenty
With a buckle to my side (buckler?)
And a sworde in my hand i would fight
I would fight for the life of georgia
Footnote:
47. This is Child Ballad No. 209, "Geordie." It is also included in Belden (3 versions), pp. 76-78; Sharp, English Folk Songs... (6 versions), I, 240-243; Cox, pp. I35-I36; Randolph (4 versions), pp. 61-I65; Randolph, Ozark Mountain Folks, pp. 224-225; Scarborough, pp. 213-215; Gardner and Chickering, p. 317; Greenleaf and Mansfield, p. 40; Davis, pp. 435-438; Sharp, Folk Songs from Somerset, p. 5; Sharp, One Hundred English Folksongs, pp. 24-25; Pound, Folk-Song, p. Ir.