28 Aug 03 - 03:20 PM (#1009770) Subject: Lyr Add: SPARE ME THE LIFE OF GEORDIE (from Bailey From: Roberto 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 |
28 Aug 03 - 03:32 PM (#1009773) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roy Bailey's Geordie From: Sorcha Baez version in the DT. |
28 Aug 03 - 03:38 PM (#1009778) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roy Bailey's Geordie From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca In the forum |
28 Aug 03 - 09:14 PM (#1009937) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roy Bailey's Geordie From: Stewie 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. |