Dark-Eyed Gypsy True- Hunt (NL) 1930 Karpeles E
[My title. Nine stanzas collected by Karpeles; Folk Songs From Newfoundland, 1934, I, p. 15; also Karpeles MSS. Below is an excerpt from David Gregory's article.
This doesn't resemble most US versions. Cf. Barry F, a broadside from Ireland. Karen James did a recording of this song for Folkways in 1961. It's unclear where she got her melody since Karpeles didn't provide one. James also edited the text liberally.
R. Matteson 2015]
Song Collecting in Newfoundland: Maud Karpeles, 1930
David Gregory, Athabasca University
Mrs. Flinn was Placentia housewife Margaret Flinn, and Maud noted two songs from her, “Constant Farmer’s Son” and “The Dreams of Lovely Nancy.” Karpeles next went collecting by motor boat. It was an hour's trip up the North East Arm to the village of Dunville, where the Hunt family lived. Maud recorded her candid impressions of the Hunts in her diary that evening:
[Jimmie] Hunt has known lots of songs, but he is old and childish and cannot remember things. However his son came to the rescue and gave me a couple of songs, and another son the words of “G. Laddie” – tune no good. It is a filthy house, but the people as every-where most charming and friendly. Absolutely no trouble to get them to sing. Only a little embarrassed in fear their lack of education will make the songs unsuitable ‘for the likes of me’. A lovely spot at the head of the N. East Arm – like a big lake surrounded by wooded hills. A lovely trip back to the harbour.
It was Patrick Hunt who sang “The Gypsy Laddie” for her, but Jimmie’s other son, John, proved the best informant.
E. Dark-Eyed Gypsy True -- Sung by Mr. Patrick Hunt at Dunsville, Placentia, 8th July 1930. The tune was not noted.
Seven gypsies stood in a row,
They sang so sweetly through the air,
They sang, they sang so very, very sweet,
That they charmed the heart of a lady fair.
This fair lady sitting in her castle high,
Smiling on those gypsies;
A noise, a very silly noise ran through her mind
To follow the dark-eyed gypsies true.
That night when her husband he came home
Enquiring for his lady fair;
I'm afraid, I'm afraid, says the old kitchen-maid,
That she followed the dark-eyed gypsies true.
O come saddle my horse, come saddle my team,
And brace my pistols by my side
That I will go chase of the dark-eyed gypsy true.
First they rode West and then they rode North
Till they came to a farmer's door;
O farmer, O farmer, tell me the truth,
Did you see the dark-eyed gypsy true?
Go down, go down in yonder green field [bis]
And there you'll find your own true love
In the arms of a dark-eyed gypsy true.
O last night you lay on your feather bed
With blankets round you white as snow,
And tonight you'll lay on the damp cold ground
In the arms of a dark-eyed gypsy true.
O I'll forsake my castle, she said,
O I'll forsake my property,
And my own true love I won't mind
And I'll follow the dark-eyed gypsy true.
I'll eat of the grass and drink of the dew [3 times,]
And follow the dark-eyed gypsy true.