Johnny Collins- Simmons (VA) 1920 Davis B
[From Traditional Ballads of Virginia, 1929, Kyle Davis Jr. His notes follow. This is the second version of the "Johnny Collins" type published by Davis.
The "Fair Ellen" in stanza 1 is not the same woman (lover) that sees his dead body in a coffin coming past her. The stanzas between 2 and 3 are missing.
R. Matteson 2012, 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.
B. "Johnny Collins." Collected by Mr. John Stone. Sung by Mrs. Julie Simmons. Highland County. November 3, 1920. With music.
1 Johnny Collins rode out to the fields one day,
When the flowers were all in full bloom;
Who did he spy but his own fair Ellen
A-washing a white marble stone.
2 She screamed, she cried,
She raised her hand,
Saying, " Come here, young Collins, my dear,
For fear your life at an end."
3 "Whose coffin, whose coffin, whose coffin," she cried,
"Whose coffin so neat and fine?"
"It's young Johnny Collins' coffin a-coming,
An old true lover of mine."
4 She ordered her shroud to be brought to her,
That she might trim it so fine:
"Today it waves over Collins' grave,
And tomorrow it shall wave over mine."
5. She ordered the coffin to be opened,
And the shroud to be folded down,
And she kissed his clay-cold lips,
Till the tears came twinkling down.