Geordie (ballad)

"Geordie" is Child ballad 209, existing in many variants.

Synopsis

The "Geordie" of the title is taken for a crime, to hang; it may be rebellion, murder, horse-stealing, or poaching deer. His wife (or lady) goes to appeal for his life, sometimes refusing offers to marry her, once widowed, along the way.

She pleads for his life, mentioned the children she had borne him, usually seven, or twelve; she may still be pregnant with the youngest, or the youngest has never seen his father. A ransom is set, and many people give her money, which adds up to enough to buy his life.

Adaptations

One of the earliest recorded versions is by folk legend Joan Baez, who included a live performance of the song on her first live album in 1962. The Baez version makes it clear that Geordie's crime was poaching the King's deer, for which the penalty was hanging with a silken rope. It has also been recorded by Ewan MacColl, A. L. Lloyd, Julie Felix, and the British folk rock band Trees, Silly Sisters (band) and Shirley Collins. Fabrizio de André translated the ballad into Italian.

Geography

In terms of geography, there are three versions. The Scottish variants mention Geordie being rescued from the scaffold in Edinburgh. This may refer to George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly. One English version mentions Newcastle. This may refer to George Stools, executed in 1610. There are some versions that mention the town "Boheny", but this has never been satisfactorily located. There is a town called Bohenie near Pitlochrie. Another English version has the execution taking place in London, and the culprit is the Earl of Oxford. The story of the Earl of Oxford was printed in the seventeenth century.

References

• (1) History
• (2) Bohenie, Pitlochrie

See also

• "The Laird O Logie'" features another woman pleading for her lover's life.
• "The Maid Freed from the Gallows" depicts the condemned pleading for a stay of execution while the ransom may yet arrive.

External links

• Geordie
• Geordie performed by Oak Ash & Thorn