Georgie- Skaggs (AR) 1954 Parler B
[No local title, title assigned by collector. From Ozark Folksong Collection, Reel 211, Item 3. Collected by Mary Celestia Parler; transcribed by Neil Byer. This is a one stanza fragment (usually the last) w/music also Bronson 19.
Listen: http://digitalcollections.uark.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/OzarkFolkSong/id/2948/rec/5
It's possible this version was adapted by Peggy Seeger (see her text below) on 1979 "Blood and Roses" (Re-issued by CAMSCO) where it was titled Geordie and the name is Geordie throughout. Only one stanza is different.
R. Matteson 2013, 2016]
B. [Georgie."]- Sung by Evelyn Skaggs of Wayton, Ark. on October 2, 1954. Transcribed Bronson, Parler B
As I was a-crossing London's Bridge
On misty morning early
There I spied a pretty fair miss
A-lamenting for her Georgie.
She said "Go saddle me my black,
And bridle him most gaily,
And I will ride this livelong night
And plead for the life of Georgie."
She rode, she rode until she came there
'Twas was in the morning early;
And on bended knee she fell,
Saying, "Spare me the life of Geordie."
She pulled out her purse of gold
Saying "Lawyers money aplenty!
Just free yourself and think on me
And plead for the life of Georgie."
And Georgie's lawyer he rose up
Said, "I've nothing at all against him,
But [1] his own confession he must die
O Lord have mercy on him."
The Judge looked over his left shoulder,
He looked both sad and sorry,
"My pretty fair miss you came too late
Georgie has to be hung tomorrow."
Georgie was of a noble race
And loved a virtuous lady;
Georgie was hanged with silken ropes
Such ropes there were not many
Georgie he walked up and down the halls
A-bidding adieu to many;
But when he came to his own true love
That grieved him worse than any.
Georgie is buried in Harlan[2] state
And over him grew a willow
With a marble stone to his head and feet
And his true love's arm for a pillow.
1. By
2. Holland (Byer)
------------------
GEORDIE Peggy Seeger on "Wine and Roses" [internet transcription- text not confirmed]
As I walked over old London's Bridge
It was in the morning early
There I espied a pretty fair maid
Lamenting for her Geordie
She said "Now saddle me my black,
go bridle him right gaily,
and I will ride this live long night
and beg for the life of Geordie."
She rode, she rode until she came there
It was in the morning early
And on bended knee she fell
Saying "spare the life of Geordie."
Then she pulled out her purse of gold
Crying "Lawyers money aplenty!
Just fee yourself and think on me
And plead for the life of Geordie."
Then Geordie's lawyer he rose up
saying "I've nothing at all against him
By his own confession he must die
and the Lord have mercy on him."
The Judge looked over his left shoulder,
and he looked both sad and sorry,
"My pretty fair maid you have come too late
Geordie's going to be hanged tomorrow."
Geordie he walked up and down the hall
bidding adieu to many
but when he came to his own true love
it grieved him worse than any.
Geordie was hanged with a golden chain
such chains you don't see many
he was born of a noble race
and he loved a virtuous lady.
Geordie is buried in Harlan state
and over him grows a willow
with a marble slab at his head and feet
and his true love's arm for a pillow