Georgie- Dunaway (AR) 1951 Parler C
[My designation--Parler C; From Ozark Folksong Collection, Reel 116, Item 1. Collected by Irene Carlisle; transcribed by Nathaniel Lucy.
R. Matteson 2016]
Georgie- Sung by Georgia Dunaway of Fayetteville, Arkansas April 10, 1951. She learned this from a woman who stayed with the family when she was a little girl in Hazel Valley.
As I went over London’s bridge
Twas early in the morning
There I spied a pretty young maid
Pleading for the life of Georgie.
Go saddle up my milk’s white steeds
And bridle them so gaily
That I may ride to the king-castle town
And plead for the life of Georgie
She rode all day and she rode all night
Til she was weak and weary
While throwing back her fine young hair
She pleads for the life of Georgie
She pulled from a pocket a purse of gold
Saying “Here’s money aplenty
Lawyers, lawyers fee yourselves
And spare me the life of Georgie.”
George stepped up then unto the lawyer
Saying “I have not murdered any
But I stole sixteen of the king’s white steeds
And sold them in - - -“
Upstepped the lawyer then to George
Saying “George I’m sorry for you
For your own confession has condemned you to die
May the Lord have mercy upon you,
For your own confession has condemned you to die
May the Lord have mercy upon you."
George was walking up and down the streets
Abiding adieu to many
Abiding adieu to his own dear girl
Which grieved him the most of any
You shall be hung with a golden cord
For such, there is not many
Because he came from a royal race
And courted a handsome lady
I wish I were over on yon hillside
Where kisses are aplenty
With a sword and pistol by my side
I would fight for the life of Georgie.