Francis James Child

“ She turned her horse's head to the flood,
And swam through at Queensferry.
But when she to the presence came,
'Mang earls high and lordlie,
There hat on head sat every man,
While hat in hand stood Geordie. ”

“ Gar print me ballants weel,' she said,
'That I am a worthy ladie.'
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THERE was a battle in the north,
Among the nobles many;
The Laird of Geight he's killd a man,
And there's nane to die but Geordie. ”

“ You must prepare yourself for death,
For there'll be nae mercy for you.
In it comes his Second Lord Judge,
Says, George I'm sorry for you;
You must prepare yourself for death,
For there'll be nae mercy for you. ”

“ Afore I lose my Geordie.
'I hae ele'en bairns i the wast,
The twalt bears up my body;
The youngest's on his nurse's knee,
An he never saw his dadie.
'I hae se'en uncles in the north,
They gang baith proud an lordly ”

“ When she came to the sea-side,
The boats they were nae ready;
She turned her horse's head about,
And swimd at the Queen's Ferry.
And when she came to the prison-door,
There poor folks they stood many ”

“ And he spake blythe and merrie;
'Was Geordie's head upon the block,
I am sure I would have his lady.'
Up bespake that lady fair,
And O but she was sorrie!
'If Geordie's head were on the block,
There's never a man gain his lady. ”

“ She gae anither skipper half-a-crown,
To boat her oer the ferry.
When she cam on to Edinboro town,
The poor stood thick and mony;
She dealt them money roun and roun,
Bade them pray for the life o her Geordie. ”