Another Child Ballad (210) and this one is interesting! From my limited reading it seems there were only a few original versions of this song collected, all passed down orally from Scottish tradition. The horseman in the song is “a Campbell” though precisely which one is up for debate, as well as exactly how he died. Some say he was a Sir John who was killed in a disagreement, some say he was a James who died in the battle of Glenlivit in 1594. Evidently the “George” that I sing about was an American change. As if the character confusion isn’t enough, it also is generally thought to be incomplete, which makes sense… for a ballad especially, it is sorely lacking length and detail. But the tune is just magnificent, and what little story we get is appropriately sad.