Very very interesting. My Cynthia Gooding album has this still differently, although close to your #2 link above:GEORGE COLLINS as sung by Cynthia Gooding (on Faithful Lovers and Other Phenomena), and recalled/heard by Mrr:
George Collins rode out one wintry night, he rode through sleet and snow.
George Collins rode out one wintry night, was taken sick and died.
His own true love Mary was in her room, dressed in silk so fine
When she found out that George was dead, she laid them all aside.
She followed him up, she followed him down, she followed him to his grave
And there upon the cold, cold stones, she wept, she mourned, she prayed:
"Take down that casket, unscrew that lid, turn back that shroud so fine
That I may kiss his cold, cold lips, for I'm sure he'll never kiss mine."
"Little Mary, don't weep, Little Mary, don't mourn, there's more young men than one."
"Oh, but Mother, dear Mother, he was all I had, and now I'm left alone.
Do you see that yonder turtle dove, fluttering from pine to pine?
She's mourning for her own lost love, so why not I for mine?"I always found this lovely and what with the advent of grief counseling and everything, I like the idea of a song about go ahead and cry, it does suck, rather than about getting on with your life. You know me, I'm all for mourning the sorrow.