Blackjack Davy- Risinger (OK) pre1964 Moores
[No date given. From Ballads and Folk-songs from the Southwest, Moores; 1964. Their notes follow.
R. Matteson 2015]
38 The Gypsy Laddie; Moores
The Gypsy Laddie (Child, No. 200) has become The Blackjack Davy in Oklahoma, but he still performs all the cunning of the original personage. The ballad is an old one, as is indicated by Professor Child's note that a "conjectured date of 1720 is given with hesitation. . . in the catalogue of the British Museum" (Child, IV, 61). Motherwell, 11, 233-36, includes a very interesting text in which sixteen clever men are responsible for the stealing of the lady rather than the one Gypsy Davy.
For other references, see Barry, Eckstorm, and Smyth, 269-77; Belden, 73-76; Brewster, 134; Chappell, 37; Child, IV, 61-74; Cox, 130-33; Creighton and Senior, 71-72; Davis, 423-31; Eddy, 67-69; Greenleaf and Mansfield, 38-39; Hudson, 117-19; Journal, Vol. XVIII, 195 (Barry), Vol. XXV, 173 (Belden), Vol. XXVI, 3S3 (pound), Vol. xxx, 323-24 (Kittredge), vol. LII, 79 (Neely); Linscott, 201-209; McGill, 15; Morris, 304-307; Owens, 47-49; Randolph, I, 152-60; Scarborough, Song Catcher, 215-25; and Sharp, I, 233-39.
The Blackjack Davy, sung by Robert L. Risinger, Norman.
Davy came trippling o'er the hills,
O'er the hills so boldly.
He sang and he sang to the greenwood side;
And he charmed the heart of a lady,
And he charmed the heart of a lady.
She came trippling down the steps
With a glass of good old brandy.
"O drink, O drink, O drink your health,
O drink your health, my Davy,
O drink your health, my Davy."
"Will you ride with me, my pretty little miss,
Will you ride with me, my honey?
I'll swear by the sword that hangs by my side
You never shall want for money,
You never shall want for money."
"Will you take off those high-heeled shoes,
All made of Spanish leather,
And put on these low-heeled shoes,
And go with me forever,
And go with me forever?"
Yes, she pulled off those high-heeled shoes,
All made of Spanish leather,
And put on those low-heeled shoes,
And off they went together,
And off they went together.
When the landlord came home that night,
Inquiring for his lady,
His servant made him this reply:
"She has gone with the Blackjack Davy;
She has gone with the Blackjack Davy."
"Go saddle up my iron-gray steed,
My roan is not so speedy.
I'll ride all night till broad daylight,
Or I'll overtake my lady,
Or I'll overtake my lady."
He rode till he came to the broad seashore;
ft was so deep and muddy.
The tears came twinkling down his cheeks,
For there he spied his lady,
For there he spied his lady.
"Have you forsaken your house and home?
Have you forsaken your baby?
Have you forsaken your husband dear,
To go with the Blackjack Davy,
To go with the Blackjack Davy?"
"Yes, I've forsaken my house and home,
And I've forsaken my baby;
And I've forsaken my husband dear
To go with Blackjack Davy,
To go with Blackjack Davy."
"Will you pull off those sky-blue gloves,
All made of Spanish leather,
And give to me your lily-white hand,
And bid farewell forever,
And bid farewell forever."
"Yes, I'll take off these sky-blue gloves,
All made of Spanish leather.
I'll give to you my lily-white hand,
And bid farewell forever,
And bid farewell forever."
"Last night you lay in your house and home,
A-viewing of your baby.
In the arms of the Blackjack Davy,
In the arms of the Blackjack Davy."