Geordie

As I Walked Over London Bridge

Traditional, arranged by Fiona Potts

Lyrics

As printed in “Folk-songs of England (Book II): Folks-songs from the Eastern Counties Collected by R. Vaughan Williams,” edited by Cecil J. Sharp, 1908.

1. As I walked over London Bridge
One midsummer’s morning early,
O there I spied a fair pretty maid,
Lamenting for her Geordie.

2. “Geordie has stol’n nor house nor land,
Not has he murdered any,
He’s stolen six of the king’s white deer
And has sold them to Bevany.”

3. “Come bridle me my milk white steed,
Come saddle me my pony,
That I may rise to the good lord judge,
There I’ll beg for the life of Geordie.”

4. When she arrived at the red shire hall,
Where people there were many,
Down on her bended knees did fall,
Crying “Spare me the life of Geordie.”

5. The judge looked over his left shoulder,
And he was very sorry;
He said “Young woman, you are too late,
For he is condemned already.”

6. She turned her heavy eyes around
And fixed them on poor Geordie;
“It’s your own confession, and die you must,
May the Lord have mercy on ye!”

7. “Geordie shall be hung in chains of gold,
Such chains as there never were any,
For he is one of the royal blood,
And he courted a royal lady.”

8. “I wish I were on yonder hill,
Where times I have been many,
With a sword and pistol all by my side,
There I’d fight for the life of Geordie.”

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