Geordie
Anaïs Mitchell & Jefferson Hamer Lyrics

As I walked out over London
The singer was walking in London early in the morning.

On a misty morning early
It was early in the morning and there was mist in the air.

I overheard a fair pretty maid
The singer heard a beautiful woman crying.

Crying for the life of her Geordie
The woman was crying and begging for the life of her loved one, Geordie.

Saddle me a milk white steed
She asked to have a white horse saddled for her.

Bridle me a pony
She asked for a pony to be bridled for her.

I’ll ride down to London town
The woman planned to ride to London.

And I’ll beg for the life of my Geordie
She planned to beg for the life of Geordie.

And when she came to the courthouse steps
She arrived at the courthouse.

The poor folks numbered many
Many poor people were there.

A hundred crowns she passed around
She gave money to the poor people.

Saying,“Pray for the life of my Geordie”
She asked them to pray for Geordie's life.

“He never stole a mule or a mare
Geordie was not a thief.

He never murdered any
Geordie was not a murderer.

If he shot one of the king’s wild deer
If Geordie killed one of the king's deer,

It was only to feed his family”
He did it to feed his family.

And then she strode through the marble hall
She walked confidently through the hall.

Before the judge and the jury
She appeared before the judge and jury.

Down on her bended knee she falls
The woman fell to her knees.

Crying for the life of her Geordie
She continued to beg for Geordie's life.

“He never stole, he never slew
She repeated that Geordie was not a thief or murderer.

He never murdered any
She repeated that Geordie was not a murderer.

He never injured any of you
Geordie had never caused harm to anyone present.

Spare me the life of my Geordie”
She begged them to spare Geordie's life.

The judge looked over his left shoulder
The judge turned his head to the left to look at her.

He says, “I’m sorry for thee
The judge expressed sympathy for her.

My pretty fair maid, you’ve come to late
The judge said it was too late to save Geordie.

He’s been condemned already”
Geordie had already been sentenced to death.

“But six pretty babes I had by him
The woman revealed she had six children by Geordie.

The seventh one lies in my body
She was currently pregnant with the seventh child.

And I would bear them all over again
She would have all of the children again.

If you give me the life of my Geordie”
She pleaded for Geordie's life in exchange for having more children.

“Your Geordie will hang in a silver chain
Geordie would be hanged, and his body would be displayed in a silver coffin.

Such as we don’t hang many
It was rare for someone to be hanged in such a distinguished way.

And he’ll be laid in a coffin brave
Geordie would be in a brave, honorable coffin.

For your six fine sons to carry”
Her six sons would carry his coffin.

“I wish I had you in a public square
The woman threatened to fight the judge.

The whole town gathered around me
She wanted everyone to see her fight.

With my broad sword and a pistol too
She said she would fight with a sword and a pistol.

I’d fight you for the life of my Geordie”
She would fight to the death to save Geordie's life.