Black Jack David- (NC) c.1915 Greer/Brown E
[From Brown Collection of NC Folklore; Vol. 2, 1952. Their notes follow. Text is available in MS (Abrams Collection). The music, from Vol. 4, is at the bottom. This appears to be a compilation of at least two versions (see MS Lyric variations 02, 03, 04, 05 in Greer Collection online).
Greer knew several versions but likely collected them and never, to my knowledge, provided sources. He has Sheet music 01-05 (five versions-- Greer Collection online) which are usually rewrites of one or two versions - he apparently didn't write music so he had people try to transcribe them.
The Greers (his wife playing the dulcimer) recorded Black Jack David for Paramount in NYC in October 1929. The A side was Black Jack Davy - Part I; the B side was Black Jack Davy - Part II.
Bronson in TTCB says this was collected by Alphonso Smith and Thomas Smith. We know that Thomas Smith sent Alphonso Smith a version (or versions) of this ballad in a letter. Thomas Smith however attributes three versions (Brown B-D) to other informants and Greer is not mentioned.
R. Matteson 2015]
37. The Gypsy Laddie (Child 200)
Still widely known and sung; see BSM 73-4, and add to the citations there given Massachusetts (FSONE 207-9), Tennessee (SFLQ XI 130-1), North Carolina (FSRA 2)7, one stanza only), Florida (SFLQ viii 156), Arkansas (OFS I 152-3, 155-60), Missouri (OFS I 155-9), Ohio (BSO 67-9), Indiana (BSI 134), and Kittredge's bibliographical note JAFL xxx 323. Texts from the Southern states are likely to include, rather incongruously, stanzas from the wooing song 'Where are you Going, my Pretty Maid?' So in Tennessee (FSSH iii), Mississippi (FSM 118-19), and North Carolina (SCSM 218 and versions A B D E G below).
E. 'Black Jack David.' Contributed by I. G. Greer of Boone, Watauga county, apparently in 1915. An unusually full version. The last line of each stanza is repeated.
1 Black Jack David come ridin' through the woods,
Singin' so loud and merry
That the green hills all around him ring.
And he charmed the heart of a lady.
And he charmed the heart of a lady.
2 'How old are you, my pretty little miss.
How old are you, my lady?'
She answered him with a 'tee, hee, hee,
I'll be sixteen next summer,'
3. 'Come, go with me, my pretty little miss.
Come, go with me, my lady;
I'll take you across the deep blue sea
Where you never shall want for money.
4 'Won't you pull off those high heel shoes
All made of Spanish leather;
Won't you put on some low heel shoes?
And we'll ride off together.'
5 She soon pulled off those high heeled shoes
All made of Spanish leather;
She put on those low heeled shoes
And they rode off together.
6 'Twas late at night when the land-lord come
Inquirin' for his lady.
He was posted by a fair young maid:
'She's gone with Black Jack David.'
7 Go saddle me my noble steed,
Go bridle me my derby;
I'll ride to the east, I'll ride to the west.
Or overtake my lady.'
8 He rode till he came to the deep below ;
The stream was deep and muddy.
Tears came tricklin' down his cheeks.
For there he spied his lady.
9 'How can you leave your house and land,
How can you leave your baby,
How can you leave your husband dear
To go with Black Jack David?'
10 'Very well can I leave my house and land,
Very well can I leave my baby.
Much better can I leave my husband dear
To go with Black Jack David.
11 'I won't come back to you, my love,
Nor I won't come back, my husband;
I wouldn't give a kiss from David's lips
For all your land and money.
12 'Last night I lay on a feather bed
Beside my husband and baby ;
Tonight I lay on the cold damp ground
Beside the Black Jack David.'
13 She soon run through her gay clothing.
Her velvet shoes and stockings;
Her gold ring off her finger was gone,
And the gold plate off her bosom.
14 'Oh, once I had a house and land,
A feather bed and money,
But now I've come to an old straw pad.
With nothing but Black Jack David.'
E. 'Black Jack David'. Sung by Dr. I. G. Greer. Recorded at Boone in 1915. Sung again for the present editor at the singer's home in Chapel Hill, 1952. Cf. note to the preceding version, 37D(i). Measures 5-7 remind one slightly of 'Oh, Susanna !'
Scale: Hexachordal, plagal. Tonal Center: f. Structure: abab1c1 (2,2,2,2,2) = ab (4,6) ; the second phrase is internally incremented.
E(1) 'Black Jack David.' Sung by Dr. I. G. Greer. No date or place given. This second version, like the first, was again sung for the present editor at the singer's home in Chapel Hill in 1952. Cf. note to 37D(1).
Scale: Hexachordal, plagal. Tonal Center: f. Structure: abacc1 (2,2,2,2,2)= ab (4,6) ; the second phrase is internally incremented.