The Life of Georgie- Underwood (MO) 1928 Randolph A
[From Randolph; Ozark Folksongs, 1946 Volume I. Randolph's notes follow.
R. Matteson 2013, 2016]
The old ballad of "Georgie" or "Geordie" is well known on both sides of the Atlantic. Belden (1907), 319, points out its derivation from an eighteenth century broadside, "The life and Death of George of Oxford" (Child 209), and Cox (1925), 135 gives numerous references to English texts. There is a comment on the use of a silken rope in Pepys's Diary, Feb 27, 1663. American versions have been reported by Campbell and Sharp, Shoemaker (1919), 140; Pound(1915),11; A. Richardson, 504; A. K. Davis (1929), 435-38, Randolph, OMF, pp 223-25; Greenleaf and Mansfield, 40; L. Chappell, 37; Gardner and Chickering, 317; Belden (1940), 76-78; Brewster (1941), 170; and the Brown Collection.
A. "The Life of Georgie." -- Sung by Mr. George Underwood, Jane, Mo., Mar. 7, 1928. Randolph A
"Go saddle me my black," said she,
An' saddle him most gaily,
An' I will ride over to Kingstall town
An' plead for th' life of Georgie."
CHORUS: Li toodel ondel adel ondel,
Andel ondel ay ay da.
She rode right over to Kingstall town,
An' she was wore an' weary,
An' she knelt right down on her bended knee
Sayin' spare me the life of Georgie.
Li toodel ondel adel ondel,
Andel ondel ay ay da.
The judge looked over his left shoulder,
Sayin' Miss, I'm sorry for you,
But it's by his own confession
That Georgie must hang tomorrow.
[CHORUS]
She pulled out her purse of gold,
Sayin' here is money plenty,
Lawyers, come an' fee yourselves,
But spare me the life of Georgie.
Georgie rose up to plead for his-self,
Sayin' I've not murdered any,
But I stole sixteen of the King's best steeds
An' sold 'em in Bohemy.
Georgie walked up an' down the street,
A-biddin' adieu to many,
But when he come to his own true love
It grieved him the worst of any.
Georgie was hung by a silken rope,
Such ropes there are not many,
But Georgie was born of a noble race,
An' loved by a virtuous lady.
Georgie was buried at Highland Church,
An' over his head grew a willow;
With a marble stone at his head an' feet,
An' his true love's arm for a pillow.