Jean Ritchie - Geordie (Child 209, Roud 90)
This song was likely learnt from print, either directly or indirectly, as an extremely similar printed version has been found. However, the printed version in question was used in Pine Mountain Settlement School in Kentucky, so it may have been collected from Jean Ritchie's area.
This recording was made by Alan Lomax in 1949. Most of the Lomax recordings are poor quality and absent from YouTube. I plan to remove as much background noise as possible and upload as many as I can. Here is a playlist with my other Jean Ritchie uploads: • Jean Ritchie - Geordie (Child 209, Roud 90)
Here is a link to my main channel, which mostly consists of informative and historical videos about traditional music and features many rare recordings: / @thefolkrevivalproject
I featured the traditional song "Geordie" in this video, which includes two traditional recordings and two famous recordings of the song: • Phonograph to Folk Revival [PART 2/6] – a ...
This video will not be monitized. All credit goes to Jean Ritchie, Alan Lomax and whomever currently holds to rights to this music. I uploaded this video because the music needs to be heard.
As I walked over London Bridge
One morning that was foggy,
I though I heard a fair one say,
"Pray, save the life of Georgie!"
I thought I heard a fair one say,
"Pray, save the life of Georgie!"
"Go saddle up my milk white steed,
For I must ride miles forty,
Far over and away to lone castle fair
To save the life of Georgie."
Far over and away to lone castle fair
To save the life of Georgie."
Oh she rode East and she rode West,
Till she arrived so weary,
A-combing out her golden hair,
And a-pleading for her deary.
A-combing out her golden hair,
And a-pleading for her deary.
Then out of her pocket she drew a purse,
The likes I ne'er saw any,
Sayin': "Lawyers come and fee yourselves,
For I'll spend every penny."
Sayin': "Lawyers come and fee yourselves,
For I'll spend every penny."
Then Georgie spoke and thus he said
"I ne'er did kill nobody,
But I stole sixteen of the King's white steeds,
And sold 'em to Gahoddy."
But I stole sixteen of the King's white steeds,
And sold 'em to Gahoddy."
The oldest lawyer at the bar
Said, "George, it is a pity,
By your own words you're condemned to die,
You should have been more witty."
He walked down the lined streets
He bade farewell to many,
He bade farewell to his own true love
Which grieved him more than any.
He bade farewell to his own true love
Which grieved him more than any.
Now George was hung with a mighty chain
Of gold that was so weighty
Because he came of a royal race
And courted a noble lady.
Because he came of a royal race
And courted a noble lady.
"I wish I was on yon high hill
Where kisses I had often,
I'd stab myself with a pointed blade
Beside my lover's coffin."
I'd stab myself with a pointed blade
Beside my lover's coffin."