Giles Collins- Seoane (VA) 1914 Davis G
[From Traditional Ballads of Virginia, 1929, Kyle Davis Jr. His notes follow.
R. Matteson 2015]
LADY ALICE
(Child, No. 85)
The eighteen items belonging to this ballad in the Virginia collection may be quite adequately represented by the eight here given since the most widespread version of the song represented by C, D, E, F, and G shows an unusual constant and standard text, and there is no need of reprinting the identity or near-identity. The eighteen variants belong to two quite distinct versions, both of which differ widely from any Child version. One version, represented by A and B and known as "John Collins" or "Johnny Collins," has been found in only one county of the state, Highland. The other version, represented by all the other variants and known as " George Collins," "Giles Colin," " George Collin," or " George Collie," is quite widely known and sung. Some exceptionally fine melodies are the four which belong to the more popular version (see C, D, and E). The editor can personally testify to the special effectiveness of the second melody to D, as it is sung in the Blue Ridge mountains. The air is poignant and dirge-like, conforming to the mournful quality of the story, not mitigating it as the lilting air of this ballad's counterpart, "Lord Lovel," mitigates the-tragedy of that ballad. Reed Smith reports the ballad from a young man who frequently heard it sung in the Dismal swamp region of Virginia." It would be appropriate to that region! The other air given with B, clearly belongs to a different version. The appendix shows that this ballad, like "Lord Lovel," is easily parodied.
"Giles Collins." Reported by Miss Corita G. Seoane, of Merrifield, Va., contributed by Miss Edith Thompson. Fairfax County. February 11, 1914.
1 Giles Collins drove home on a cold winter night,
Giles Collins drove home so fine;
Giles Collins drove home on a cold winter night,
And taken sick an died.
2 I saw a maid in yonder home,
A-sewing her silk so fine;
But when she heard poor Giles was dead,
She laid her silk aside.
3 She followed him up, she followed him down,
She followed him to his grave,
And knelt upon her bended knees,
She mourned, she wept, she prayed.
4 "Dear daughter, dear daughter, what makes you weep so?
There are more young men than Giles."
"Dear mother, dear mother, he won my heart;
But now he is dead and gone."
5 "Set up the casket, open the lid,
Throw back his linen so fine.
And let me kiss Poor Giles's lips,
For I know he will never kiss mine.
6 "I see a dove in yonder field,
Flying from pine to Pine,
Is mourning for its lost true love.
Why can't I mourn for mine?"