George Collins- Lena Harmon (NC) 1969 Burton
[From Burton's Some Ballad Folks, 1978. Lena is Lee Monroe Presnell's daughter. Lee Monroe's version was recorded by the Warner's and also Sandy Paton for Folk Legacy. He learned his version from his mother. Burton doesn't mention him as the source but he surely was.
This was probably a community ballad known by Hicks/Harmon/Presnell families.
R. Matteson 2015]
George Collins - Sung by Lena Harmon, Beech Mountain, NC; 21 March, 1969.
1. George Collins rode home one cold winter's night,
George Collins rode home so fine.
George Collins rode home one cold winter's night;
Taken sick and died.
Mary was sitting in yonders door,
A-sewing her silk so fine; _
But when she heard that George was dead,
She laid her silk aside. _
She follered him up, she followed him down,
She follered him to his grave.
Down on her bended knee she fell:
She mourned, she cried and prayed.
"Daughter, oh, Daughter, why do you weep so?
There's more young men than George."
"Oh, Mother, oh, Mother, George's got my heart;
And now he's dead and gone. "
"Sit down the coffin, lay back the lid,
Push back the linen so fine.
That I may kiss those cold, pale lips;
I'm sure they'll never kiss mine."
"Oh, don't you see that lonesome dove
A-sailin' through the pine?
She's mourning for her old truelove
Just like I mourn for mine."