Geordie
RA, Western, 2008
As I walked over London Bridge
One misty moisty morning
I overhear a fair young maid
Lamenting for her Geordie
Go bridle me my milk white steed
Go saddle me my pony
That I may ride to London town
To plead for the life of Geordie
And when she entered in that room
There were lords and ladies a plenty
And on her bended knees she did fall
To plead for the life of Geordie
For Geordie stole no cow nor calf
Of men he never hurt any
But he stole sixteen of the king's royal deer
And sold them in Bohenny
Oh children two I have had by him
The third lies in my belly
I'd leave them every one for him
If you spare the life of Geordie
Well the judge looked over his left shoulder
He said I'm sorry for thee
Alas pretty mad you've come too late
For Geordie's condemnd already
Let Geordie hang in golden chains
Such chains there were never seen any
For Geordie came of royal blood
And he courted a virtuous lady
I wish I was in yonder grove
Where ofttimes I've been many
With my broadsword and my buckler too
And I'd fight for the life of Geordie
From Probably Joan Baez. She has a version
About
This is (amongst other things) a Child Ballad and exists in English and Scottish versions. Presumably several stories (several songs perhaps) mixed together. George Gordon, Earl of Huntley was imprisoned in 1554. (Later released) George Stowell was hanged in Newcastle. Both events seem to have formed songs that have gone into the oral mixing machine.