george collins walked out one may morning when may was all in bloom and who should he see but a fair pretty maid washing her white marble stone she whooped she hollered she called so loud she waved her lily white hand come hither to me george collins cried she for your life it won t last you long he put his bent bow down by brent side and across the river sprang he he gripped his hands round her middle so small and he kissed her red ruby lips then he rode home to his father s own house loudly knocked at the ring arise arise my father he cried rise and please let me in oh arise arise dear mother he cried rise and make up my bed arise arise dear sister he cried get a napkin to tie round my head for if i should die tonight as i suppose i shall please bury me neath that white marble stone that lies neath fair ellender s hall fair ellender sat all in her hall weaving her silk so fine who should she see but the finest corpse that ever her eyes shone on oh fair ellender called on her head maid whose corpse is this oh so fine she made her reply george collins corpse an old true lover of mine put him down my brave little boys and open his coffin so wide that i may kiss his red ruby lips ten thousand times they ve kissed mine the news being carried to fair london town wrote on london gate six pretty maids died all in one night and all for george collins sake 