E
a. Kinloch MSS, V, 130; in the handwriting of James Beattie. b. Kinloch’s Ancient Scottish Ballads, p. 192.
1
There was a battle in the north,
And rebels there were many,
And they were a’ brought before the king,
And taken was my Geordie.
My Geordie O, O my Geordie O,
O the love I bear to Geordie!
For the very ground I walk upon
Bears witness I love Geordie.
2
As she went up the tolbooth-stair,
The cripples there stood many,
And she dealt the red gold them among,
For to pray for her love Geordie.
3
And when she came unto the hall
The nobles there stood many,
And every one stood hat on head,
But hat in hand stood Geordie.
4
O up bespoke a baron bold,
And O but he spoke bonnie!
‘Such lovers true shall not parted be,’
And she’s got her true-love Geordie.
5
When she was mounted on her high horse,
And on behind her Geordie,
Nae bird on the brier eer sang sae clear
As the young knight and his lady.
O my Geordie O, O my Geordie O,
O the love I bear to Geordie!
The very stars in the firmament
Bear tokens I love Geordie.