George Collins- Norton (TN) 1916 Sharp D
[My title. Single stanza from English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians; 1917. Collected by Olive Dame Campbell and Cecil J. Sharp. His diary notes follow.
Also additional text in Sharp MSS., 3360/2458- Bronson 28.
R. Matteson 2015]
D. [George Collins] Sung by Mr. DANA NORTON at Flag Pond, Tenn., Aug. 31, 1916; Hexatonic. Mode 3, a.
1. George Collins on one winter night,
George Collins so fine,
George Collins on one winter night
Was taken sicken and died.
2. O see that maid in yonders town,
A-sewing her silk so fine,
And when she heard that George was dead,
She laid her silk aside.
3. She followed him up, she followed him down,
She followed him to his grave,
O there she wept, O there she mourned,
O there she wept, she prayed.
4. Unscrew the coffin screws, lay back the lid,
Lay back the linen so fine,
That I may kiss his cold, clay lips,
For I'm sure he'll never kiss mine.
5. O daughter, dear daughter, what makes you mourn,
There's more Pretty boys than George,
O mama, dear mama, George won my heart
And now he's dead and gone.
6. O see that dove, that turtle dove
That flies from pine to pine,
A-mourning for its own true love
Why not I mourn for mine?