The Death of Geordie- Russell (VA) 1932 Niles
[From: The Ballad Book of John Jacob Niles, 1961. An excerpt of his notes follows.
The same version as Niles version from Marion, Virginia first published as "Geordie" in Shirmer's Songs of the Hill-Folk in 1934 then again in his Ballad Book under the title "The Death of Geordie," is reported also from the Pine Mountain Settlement School in KY by Roberts' informant, who says the ballad dates back to circa 1913 where it was sung and was printed in a songbook titled "Ballads" (it is not in "Song Ballads and Other Songs of the Pine Mountain Settlement School" -1923) there. Whether Niles found it in Virginia is unknown- according to Roberts, he got it at Pine Mountain Settlement School or from someone who learned it there. We may never know! Here's some info from and article by Kathy Warnes:
Katherine Pettit Records Kentucky Mountain Songs
by Kathy Warnes
John Jacob Niles Hears Katherine Sing
John Jacob Niles American composer, singer, and collector of traditional ballads, listened with delight to Katherine Pettit’s singing. He liked her smile and laughing eyes and found her modest voice easy on his ears as she sang one of the ballads that she had learned from her students at the Pine Mountain School.
It was late summer of 1933, and Miss Pettit had traveled to Harrogate, Tennessee, to consult with him and give him some of the ballads that she and her colleague, May Stone had transcribed. One of the ballads she sang to him is known as “James Harris, “The Daemon Lover”, “or The House Carpenter”. Early Scots-Irish settlers in the hills of Appalachia brought the ballad with them from England and passed it down from generation to generation.
Clearly there is a chance Niles got Pine Mountain version of Geordie from Pettit. Compare also to As I Walked Out on London Bridge, sung by S. F. Russell also in Marion, Va., and recorded Sidney Robertson Cowell, 1936, which is quite similar, perhaps corroborating Niles version. Although Niles verse 6 is unusual and seems suspicious, it also appears in Roberts 1957 version which makes it likely they are from the same source.
This is one of the few versions that uses, Geordie. I have an autographed copy of Shirmer's Songs of the Hill-Folk, 1934 from my grandfather's collection.
R. Matteson 2013, 2016]
Notes; The Death of Geordie (Niles)
Next morning, however, as I was having my car serviced at a local garage, I spied a bearded old man sitting in a farm truck, and beside him sat a young girl picking a battered guitar. The old man's name was Clyde Russell, and he was as glum a person as I have ever encountered. No amount of singing on my part brought more than a sad nod of approval. The guitar-picking granddaughter admitted that "fun fits granddad like a shirt fits on a gate post." Granddad Russell never did warm up, but he sang the tragic ballad of "Geordie," and as soon as I learned it, I took to singing it, and I have continued singing it for nearly 27 years.
The Death of Geordie- Sung by Clyde Russell of Marion, VA., October, 1932. Collected by Niles.
1. As I walked over london Bridge, one morning that was foggy,
I overhead a fair one say: "Pray for the life of Geordie!"
I overhead a fair one say: "Pray for the life of Geordie!"
2. "Go saddle up my milk-white steed for I must ride miles forty,
Far over and away to the Lonecastle fair, to plead for the life of Geordie."
(repeat last line of each verse)
3. She rode all day, she rode all night, till she come, wet and weary,
A-combin' out her golden locks, and a-pleadin' for her deary.
4. Then out of her pocket come a purse, the likes f ne'er saw any,
Sayin', "Lawyers come and fee yourselves, for I'll spend every penny!"
5. Then George in dock was standin' by, said, "I ne'er did kill nobody,
But I stole sixteen of the King's white steeds, and sold 'em at Gohoody."
6. The oldest lawyer at the bar said, "George hit is a pity,
By your own words you're condemned to die - you ought to 'ave been more witty!"
7. Now George walked through the lined streets, and bid farewell to many,
He bid farewell to his own true love, and hit grieved him more than any.
8. George was hanged with a mighty chain of gold that was so weighty,
'Cause he was from a noble line, and he courted a virtuous lady.
9. I wish I was on yonder hill where kisses I had often--
I'd stab myself with a pointed blade beside my lover's coffin.