Black Jack Davy- Buttery (AR) 1958 Wallace
[From Bronson TTCB, No. 116. Taken from LC/AAFS, rec. No. 11,909(B24). See Ballads and Songs from Utah; Hubbard, 1961, p. 36, for another "wolves howling 'round me" version- also Davis AA.
Listen: http://digitalcollections.uark.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/OzarkFolkSong/id/1480/rec/11
R. Matteson 2015]
"Black Jack Davy" -- Sung by Buck Buttery, Lincoln, Ark., August 19, 1958. Collected by Marvin Wallace.
1. O Black Jack Davy crossed the field,[1]
Whistling the tune of woolsey;
Pretty little girl met him at the door,
With a glass of wine before her,
With a glass of wine before her.
2. Pretty little Black Jack Davy, she said,
We'll drink this wine together,
Speak a word or two of love
And ride the trail together,
And ride the trail together.
3. Well go pull off those high-topped shoes,
Lined with Spanish leather,
And go put on your low-heeled boots
And away we'll go together,
And away we'll go together.
4. So she pulled off her high-topped shoes
That's lined with Spanish leather,
And she put on her low-heeled boots,
And away they went together,
And away they went together.
5 When her husband he came in that night
Inquiring for his lady,
Two little babies crying out loud,
She's gone with the Black Jack Davy,
She's gone with the Black Jack Davy.
6. Well he caught (?called) out his iron-gray horse
Was so young and gaily,
Rode all day and he rode all night
Till he overtook his lady,
Till he overtook his lady.
7. Have you forgotten your house and home,
Have you forgotten your husband?
Have you forgotten those two little babes
To go with the Black Jack Davy,
To go with the Black Jack Davy?
8 I have forsaken my house and home,
I have forsaken my loved one,
(I) have forsaken those two little babes,
(I'll) go with Black Jack Davy,
I'll go with Black Jack Davy.
9. Last night you slept on a soft feather bed,
The feather was white and downy,
Tonight you'll sleep on the cold damp ground
And the wolves'll howl all round you,
And the wolves'll howl all round you.
10. Last night I slept on a soft feather bed,
The feather was white and downy,
Tonight I'll sleep on the cold damp ground,
With the Davy's arms around me,
With the Davy's arms around me.
11. He mounted on his iron-gray horse,
That was so young and gaily,
He rode back to rock his babes
And dream of his lady,
And dream of his lady.
1. Bronson's transcription is lacking and I've used Fran Majors' transcription for this stanza.