Gypsy Davy- McCord (MO) c1895 Randolph G
[From Ozark Folksongs; Randolph, I, 1946, p. 160 (G). Randolph's notes follow. Also recorded LC/AAFS rec. No. 5303 (A1) and also see Owens (Texas Folk Songs) and Bronson TTCB as number 123 (recording), 124 (Owens).
McCord also had the text to another version (Randolph F).
R. Matteson 2015]
Ozark Folksongs Notes: 27. THE GYPSY DAVY
Many texts of the "Gypsy Davy" ballad are found in British collections (Child, English and Scottish Popular Ballads, 1882-1898, No. 200). For American versions see JAFL 30, 1917, p. 323. Also the Bulletin of the Virginia Folk-Lore Society (No. 8, p. 7; No. 9, p. 7; No. 11, p. 8). Compare Campbell and Sharp (English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, 1917, No. 27), Raine (Land of the Saddle-Bags, 1924, p. 119), Cox (Folk-Songs of the South, 1925, p. 130), Kincaid (My Favorite Mountain Ballads, 1928, p. 33), Davis (Traditional Ballads of Virginia, 1929, pp. 423-431), Lunsford and Stringfield (30 and 1 Folk-Songs, 1929, p. 4), Greenleaf (Ballads and Sea Songs from Newfoundland, 1933, pp. 38-39), Chappell (Folk-Songs of Roanoke and the Albemarle, 1939, p. 37), Eddy (Ballads and Songs from Ohio, 1939, pp. 67-69), Linscott (Folk Songs of Old New England, 1939, p.207), Neely (JAFL 52, 1939, p. 79), Belden (Ballad; and Songs, 1940, pp.73-76), Brewster (Ballads and Songs of Indiana, 1940, p. 13a), Rayburn (Ozark Country, 1941, pp.200-201), Morris (Southern Folklore Quarterly 8, 1944, p. 156), and the Brown (North Carolina Folk-Lore Society) collection.
G. "Gypsy Davy" - Sung by Mrs. May Kennedy McCord, Springfield, Mo., Oct. 21, 1941. Mrs. McCord learned "Gypsy Davy" in Stone County, Mo., in the late 90's.
Gypsy Davy come a-ridin' around
He sang so loud and lovely
He hung his bugle around his waist,
Till he charmed the heart of a lady,
Till he charmed the heart of a lady.
Come go with me, my pretty fine miss,
Come go with me, my honey,
Come go with me, my pretty fine miss,
You shall never want for money,
You shall never want for money.
She put on her brand new ridin' shoes
All made of Spanish leather,
And he put on his old cork boots,
And they both rode on together,
And they both rode on together.
Her husband he come home that night
Inquirin' for his lady,
He was informed by a pretty fair miss,
She's gone with the Gypsy Davy,
She's gone with the Gypsy Davy.
Go saddle me up my blondel horse,
And bring to me my flagon,
I'll ride to the east and I'll ride to the west
Till I overtake my lady,
Till I overtake my lady.
Oh he rode till he came to the banks of the sea,
The sea was dark and muddy,
The tears came pourin' down his cheeks,
For there he spied his honey,
For there he spied his honey.
Will you forsake your babe, he cried,
Will you forsake your baby?
Will you forsake your husband too,
To go with the Gypsy Davy?
To go with the Gypsy Davy?
Yes, I'll forsake my home, she cried,
And I'll forsake my baby,
And I'll forsake my husband too,
For I love the Gypsy Davy,
For I love the Gypsy Davy.
Last night you slept on a fair white bed,
Between me and your baby,
Tonight you'll be sleepin' on the cold, cold ground
Forever with the Gypsy Davy,
Forever with the Gypsy Davy.