George Collins- Lester (VA) 1917 Davis D
[From Traditional Ballads of Virginia, 1929, Kyle Davis Jr. His notes follow.
R. Matteson 2015]
LADY ALICE
(Child, No. 85)
The eighteen items belonging to this ballad in the Virginia collection may be quite adequately represented by the eight here given since the most widespread version of the song represented by C, D, E, F, and G shows an unusual constant and standard text, and there is no need of reprinting the identity or near-identity. The eighteen variants belong to two quite distinct versions, both of which differ widely from any Child version. One version, represented by A and B and known as "John Collins" or "Johnny Collins," has been found in only one county of the state, Highland. The other version, represented by all the other variants and known as " George Collins," "Giles Colin," " George Collin," or " George Collie," is quite widely known and sung. Some exceptionally fine melodies are the four which belong to the more popular version (see C, D, and E). The editor can personally testify to the special effectiveness of the second melody to D, as it is sung in the Blue Ridge mountains. The air is poignant and dirge-like, conforming to the mournful quality of the story, not mitigating it as the lilting air of this ballad's counterpart, "Lord Lovel," mitigates the-tragedy of that ballad. Reed Smith reports the ballad from a young man who frequently heard it sung in the Dismal swamp region of Virginia." It would be appropriate to that region! The other air given with B, clearly belongs to a different version. The appendix shows that this ballad, like "Lord Lovel," is easily parodied.
D. "George Collins." Collected by Miss Alfreda M. Peel. Sung by Mrs. Lester, of Roanoke, Va. Roanoke County. May 27, 1917. With music (two tunes).
1 George Collins rode home one cold winter night,
George Collins rode home so fine,
George Collins rode home one cold winter night,
He was taken sick and died.
2 Oh, see Miss Mae in yonder hall,
Sewing her silks so fine;
But when she heard poor George was sick,
She laid her silks aside.
3 She followed him up, she followed him down,
She followed him to his grave;
She fell upon her bended knees,
She wept, she prayed, she mourned.
4 "Oh daughter, oh daughter, why do you weep so?
There are more young men than George."
"Oh mother, oh mother, he won my heart,
And now he's dead and gone.
S "Set down the casket, unscrew the lid,
Lay back the linen so fine.
For I want to kiss his dear sweet lips,
I am sure he will never kiss mine.
6 "See that dove in yonder grove,
Flying from pine to pine,
Mourning for his own true love,
As I mourn for mine."