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Crimes |
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128 GEORGIE
(Geordie, Child, No. 209)
Texts A through E in Child's collection (IV, 123-139), the purer forms of the ballad, are thought to have been concerned with George Gordon, the fourth earl of Huntly. These contain neither of the stanzas of the Michigan text. The "George Stoole" and "George of Oxford" broadsides (reprinted by Child, IV, 140-142), however, have parallels to both stanzas; and Child feels that die first stanza of the Michigan fragment, which is found in Child F, H, I, and J, has been inserted into the real "Geordie" ballads from the later broadÂsides. Stanzas similar to those of the Michigan form seem to have been favorites with later generations, for they are present in more recent texts, and often only these two are remembered, as m the Michigan version. For references and a text see Cox, pp. 135-136. See also Davis, pp. 435-438, Flanders and Brown, pp. 241-242; Greenleaf and Mansfield, p. 40; Greig, pp. 130-131; Scarborough, pp. 213-215; Sharp, I, 240--243; and Shoemaker, pp. 162-163.
The present version was sung in 1931 by Mrs. Elmer Jencks, Kalkaska, who learned the song from schoolchildren near South Boardman, Michigan, about 1876.
i Georgie never robbed a public highway; He never stole any money. But he stole sixteen of the king's white slaves, And sold them in old Virginia, And sold them in old Virginia.
2 Georgie was hung on a silken rope, Such ropes there are not many, For he was of a noble race And loved by a virtuous lady, And loved by a virtuous lady. |
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