Black Jack Davey- Scott (KY) 1957 Roberts
[In the Pine; Roberts, 1978. Notes about the song follow.
R. Matteson 2015]
SCALE: Pentatonic (Eb F G Bb C). MODE: III. Plagal. RANGE: Bb- Eb. (PERFECT 11th). TONAL CENTER: Eb. PHRASE STRUCTURE: A B 81 C C1 (2, 2,2,2,2). MELODIC RELATIONSHIP: cf. NcF rv, pp. 84ff, motivic relationship at beginning and end of A B B (1), and E; also, Bronson TTCB III, p.246, No. 119 "Black Eyed Davy" - closest melodic relationship of 128 variants; MTBV No. 33AA, p.256, - first phrase only. The consistent use of the fermata at the close of each line (except in C) seems
to be a quite common practice with folk singers, as it is also observed in Gospel hymn singing.
Black Jack Davey- recorded by Ina Mae Enzor in 1957 from the singing of her grandmother Cassie Scott, age about 70, both of Harlan County.
It's late in the night when her husband come home,
Inquiring for his lady,
She's gone with Black Jack Davey,
She's gone with Black Jack Davey.
Go saddle up my old gray horse,
The black one hain't so steady,
I'll ride all day and all night too
Till I overtake my lady,
Till I overtake my lady.
He rode till he come to the riverside,
It being deep and muddy,
He rode till he come to the other side,
And there he overtaken his honey,
And there he overtaken his honey.
Come go back, my dearest dear,
Come go back, my honey,
I'll lock you up in a chamber so high,
Where the Black Jack can't come nigh you,
Where the Black Jack can't come nigh you.
I can't go back, my dearest dear,
I can't go back, my honey.
For I'd ruther have a kiss from the Black Jack's lips
Than you and all your money,
Than you and all your money.
I once had a feather bed to lay upon,
A waitin' girl to wait upon me,
But now I come to the old straw tick,
The Black Jacks begging all around me,
The Black Jacks begging all around me.