The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #621   Message #670503
Posted By: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
16-Mar-02 - 10:17 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Anathea (from Judy Collins)
Subject: Lyr Add: GEORGIE
Jon Bartlett is correct, the relationship with Child # 209 is certainly clearer than to # 15 (as suggested in the website I posted), especially Group C, based on a version collected in Arkansas by Randolph. For those lacking Randolph, Bronson or Child:

GEORGIE

As I went over London's bridge,
'Twas early in the morning,
There I spied a pretty fair maid
pleading for the life of Georgie.

"Go saddle up my milkwhite steeds,
And bridle them so gaily,
That I may ride to the king's castle town
And plead for the life of Georgie."

She rode all day and she rode all night
'Till she was weak and weary;
While throwing back her fine yellow hair
She pleads for the life of Georgie.

She pulled from her pocket a purse of gold,
Saying, "Here is money a-plenty;
Lawyers, lawyers, fee yourselves,
And spare me the life of Georgie."

Up stepped George then unto the lawyer,
Saying, "I have not murdered any,
But I stole sixteen of the king's white steeds
And sold them in Boheeny."

Up stepped the lawyer then to George,
Saying, "George, I'm sorry for you,
But your own confession has condemmed you to die,
May the Lord have mercy on you."

George walking up and down the street
A-bidding adieu to many,
A-bidding adieu to his own dear girl,
Which grieved him the most of any.

George shall be hung with a golden cord,
For of such there is not many,
Because he came from a royal race,
And he courted a handsome lady.

I wish I were over on yon hillside
Where kisses are a-plenty;
With a sword and a pistol by my side
I would fight for the life of Georgie.

Sung by Georgia Dunaway (learned ca. 1898 from her father). Vance Randolph, Ozark Folk Songs, ed. Norm Cohen, pp. 52-53 with music. Related to the English songs going back to the 17th century.
It would be interesting to know the age of the Hungarian version and if it had been translated from English broadsides.