As I Walked Over London's Bridge- Russell (VA) 1936 REC
[At the bottom of the page is Bronson's transcription and see Kyle Davis' 1932 transcription of Russell: London's Bridge- Russell (VA) 1932.
From Stewie: Various Artists 'Virginia Traditions: Ballads from British Tradition' Global Village CD1002 under the title 'As I Walked Out on London Bridge'. The singer is S. F. 'Sam' Russell. Russell was recorded in Marion, Virginia, on 13 November 1936. The recording is a bit noisy and 'cavernous', but the voice is clear and the performance wonderful. Bronson, in Traditional Tunes of the Child Ballads, gives these lyrics for Sam Russell's version [Stewie].
Compare to Niles version (which is Robert's version from the Pine Mountain Settlement School) collected also in Marion, Va circa 1932, also and especially to Davis A from Virginia. This is Bronson No. 42-- I've taken the liberty to edit Bronson's text, since some of it was unclear.
Davis also recorded Russell, but earlier, in 1932, titling the version "London's Bridge" with text and music in "More Ballads." See that version.]
As I Walked Over London's Bridge- Russell (VA) 1936 REC; Sung by S. F. Russell. Marion, Va., Sidney Robertson Cowell, 1936.
As I walked over London's bridge
So early in the morning [1]
I overheard some fair one say,
Lord [2] spare me the life of Georgie.
I overheard some fair one say
Lord spare me the life of Georgie
Go saddle and bridle my milk-white steed
Go saddle and bridle him quickly
I'll ride away to the lone castle fair [3]
A-pleading for the life of Georgie.
I'll ride away to the lone castle fair
A-pleading for the life of Georgie
She rode all day and she rode all night
Till she came wet and weary
A-combing back her long yellow locks
A-pleading for the life of Georgie. [4]
A-combing back her long yellow locks
A-pleading for the life of Georgie.
And out her pocket she [5] drew his purse of gold,
The like I never saw any,
Saying, "Lawyers, Lawyers come fee yourselves
And spare me the life of Georgie.
Saying, Lawyers, Lawyers come fee yourselves
And spare me the life of Georgie."
Georgie was a-standing by,
And he [6] never killed anybody
But I stole sixteen of the King's white steeds
And sold them in Golandie. [7]
But I stole sixteen of the King's white steeds
And sold them in Golandie.
The oldest lawyer at the bar,
Saying, "Georgie I'm sorry for you
That your own confession has condemned you to die
May the Lord have mercy upon you.
That your own confession has condemned you to die
May the Lord have mercy upon you."
As George was looking [8] up through the street
He bid farewell to many
He bid farewell to his own true love
Which grieved him worse than any.
He bid farewell to his own true love
Which grieved him worse than any
George was hung with a golden chain
The like I never saw any,
Because he came from a royal race
And courted a virtuous lady.
Because he came from a royal race
And courted a virtuous lady.
I wish I was on yonder[9] hill,
Where kisses I've had many
My sword and pistol all on my side
I'd fight for the life of Georgie.
My sword and pistol all on my side
I'd fight for the life of Georgie.
Notes: Presumably, the parentheses and question marks indicate that the collector, or Bronson, was unsure of what those words were. It's interesting that this version seems to focus much more on Geordie himself rather than his grieving lover, like all the other versions I know. She doesn't seem as present here. [Stewie].
Footnotes by me:
1. So in the morning early- to rhyme
2. Bronson has: O, spare me
3. to the yon castle fair.
4. Niles version has "A-pleadin' for her deary"- which rhymes.
5. Pine Mountain transcription had father: And out her father drew. . .
6. Davis has: Saying, "I never killed. . .
7. Davis has walking
8. Niles version has "Gohoody." Davis had "Goannie" and adds in Davis A: Probably for Guiana (Guiana was the name of the British colony on the northern coast of South America, now the independent nation of Guyana.)
9. Davis has yonders
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As I Walked Over London's Bridge- Bronson, in Traditional Tunes of the Child Ballads, gives these lyrics for Sam Russell's version.
As I walked over London's bridge
So early in the morning
I overheard some fair one say
O spare me the life of Georgie
I overheard some fair one say
O spare me the life of Georgie
Go saddle and bridle my milk-white steed
Go saddle and bridle him(either swiftly, or quickly)
I'll ride away to the lone castle Carr(or Ker?)
A-pleading for the life of Georgie
She rode all day and she rode all night
Till she came wet and weary
A-combing back her long yellow locks
A-pleading for the life of Georgie
And out her father drew his purse of gold,
The like I never saw any,
Saying, Lawyers, Lawyers come fee yourselves
And spare me the life of Georgie
Georgie was a (standing by?)
And he never killed anybody
But a' stole sixteen of the King's white steeds
And sold them in (Golandie?)
The oldest lawyer(at the Bar?)
Saying, Georgie I'm sorry for you
That your own confession has condemned you to die
May the Lord have mercy upon you
As George was looking up through the street
He bid farewell to many
He bid farewell to his own true love
Which grieved him worse than any
George was hung with a golden chain
The like I never saw any
Because he came from a royal race
And courted a virtuous lady
I wish I was on yonder hill
Where kisses I've had many
My sword and pistol all on my side
I'd fight for the life of Georgie