George Allen- Black (VA) 1936 Wilkinson A
[From Bronson TTCB, 1961, taken from Wilkinson's MSS., 1936-37, p. 18(A). Another folk song's central person (see Scarborough notes) was named George Allen and its likely the name was adapted from that song, "Wreck of the C & O."
R. Matteson 2015]
George Allen- Sung by Mrs. Katherine Black, Batesville, Va., October 20, 1936.
1. George Allen rode home one dark stormy night,
George Allen rode home so fine;
George Allen rode home one dark stormy night,
Was taken sick and died.
2. Miss Mary was sitting in yonders hall,
Sewing on her silk so fine;
But when she found that George was dead,
She threw her silk aside.
3. She followed him up, she followed him down,
She followed him to the grave;
She felt down on her bended knees,
She wept, she mourned, she prayed.
4. "Throw back the coffin lid," said she,
Throw back the linen so fine;
That I may kiss his pale cold lips,
I'm sure he'll never kiss mine'
5. When You see a turtle dove,
Flying from pine to pine;
It mourns the loss of its own true love,
And why not I for mine.