Georgie- Hayes (TX) 1969 Hunter A
[From Max Hunter Folk Song Collection at Missouri State. Rhonda Hayes is originally from Bentonville, Arkansas. Similar to the Arkansas version collected by Parler in 1954 and Hunter's O'Bryant version from Kansas (not Hunter's Missouri version by Strayer which is a cover of Doc Watson).]
Georgie - As sung by Rhonda Hayes, Irving, Texas on October 18, 1969
Listen: http://maxhunter.missouristate.edu/songinformation.aspx?ID=1023
VERSE 1
As I was crossing London's bridge
One misty mornin' early
There I spied a pretty fair miss
A-lamenting for her Georgie
VERSE 2
She said, go saddle me my black
An' bridle him most gaily;
I'll ride, I'll ride this live long night
An' plead for the life of Georgie.
VERSE 3
She rode, she rode till she came there
T'was early in the morning.
Down on her bended knees she fell,
Sayin', "Spare me the life of Georgie."
VERSE 4
She took out a purse of gold
Sayin', "Lawyers money plenty
Just fee yourselves an' think on me
An' plead for the life of Georgie."
VERSE 5
Georgies's lawyer, he stood up
Saying, "I've nothing at all against him
But by his own confession, he must die
May the Lord have mercy on him."
VERSE 6
The Judge looked over his left shoulder,
He looked both sad an' sorry;
Sayin', "My pretty fair Miss, you've come too late
Georgie's to be hung tomorrow."
VERSE 7
Georgie walked up an' down the hall
A-bidding adieu to many.
But when he come to his own true love
That grieved his worse than any.
VERSE 8
Georgie was hung by a silken rope
Such ropes there were not many.
But Georgie was come of a noble race
An' loved by a virtuous lady.
VERSE 9
Georgie was buried in Holland state
And over 'im grew a willow
With marble stones at his head an' feet
An' his true loves arm for a pillow.