Lyr Req: Roy Bailey's Geordie

Subject: Lyr Add: SPARE ME THE LIFE OF GEORDIE (from Bailey
From: Roberto
Date: 28 Aug 03 - 03:20 PM

Please, help me complete this text, Spare Me The Life Of Geordie, sung by Roy Bailey, on New Bell Wake. The problems are in the fifth and ninth stanza. Thank you. Roberto

As I rode over London Bridge
'T was on one morning early
There I espied a fair lady
Lamenting for her Georgie

Come fetch to me some little boy
That can go on an errand quickly
That can run ten miles in an hour
With a letter for a lady

Come saddle me my milk white steed
And bridle it most rarely
That I may go to Newcastle jail
And beg for the life of Georgie

When she got to Newcastle jail
She bowed her head so lowly
Three times on her bended knees did fall
Saying - Spare me the life of Georgie

It is no murder George have done
Nor have he killed any
He stole sixteen of the king's fat deer
And sold them in the army (???)

Well, the judge look'd over his right shoulder
And seeming very sorry
He says - My dear, you are now too late
He's condemned already

Oh six pretty babes have I got with me
And I love them most dearly
I would freely part with them every one
If you'll spare me the life of Georgie

Well, the judge look'd over his left shoulder
And seeming very hard-hearted
He says - My dear, you are too late
There is no pardon granted

Oh Geordie shall hang in a chain of gold
Which are few, (???) there are not many
Because he came of a noble line
And was loved by a virtuous lady

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roy Bailey's Geordie
From: Sorcha
Date: 28 Aug 03 - 03:32 PM

Baez version in the DT.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roy Bailey's Geordie
From:
Date: 28 Aug 03 - 03:38 PM

In the forum

Geordie
How Many Versions of Geordie?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roy Bailey's Geordie
From: Stewie
Date: 28 Aug 03 - 09:14 PM

Roberto,

I hear exactly the same as you: 'in the army' and 'which are few, there are not many'.

The latter seems fair enough if you look at the pertinent stanzas in the various versions that Malcolm linked in the 'Geordie' forum link given by George above. The thought seems to be that the 'chain' or 'string' is rare. Two examples that I have to hand are the text in appendix to Child #209 'Geordie':

Georgy was hanged in silken string
The like was never any

And Cox #23:

Georgie he was hung in a white silk robe
Such robes there are not many

--Stewie.