The Gypsy Daisy- Bryant (IN) 1936 Brewster
[Fragment from: Ballads and Songs of Indiana - Collected & Edited by Paul G. Brewster; Indiana University Publications Folklore Series 1940. His notes follow.
R. Matteson 2015]
19. THE GYPSY LADDIE (Child, No. 200)
Only a four-stanza fragment of "The Gypsy Laddie" has been recovered. It resembles most closely versions H, J, and J of Child.
For American texts, see Barry, No. 9; Belden, No. 10 (a fragment); Brown, p. 9; Campbell and Sharp, No. 27; Cox, No. 21; Davis, p. 423; Hudson, No. 18; Hudson, Folksongs, p. 117; Journal, XVIII, 191; XIX, 294; XXII, 80; XXIV, 346; XXV, 173; XXVI, 353; XXX, 323; XLVIII, 385; McGill, p. 15; Pound, p. 10 (fragment); Scarborough, Song Catcher, p. 215; Smith and Rufty, American Anthology, p. 44; Cambiaire, East Tennessee and Western Virginia Mountain Ballads, pp. 59-60; Cox, Traditional Ballads, pp. 31, 32, 35; Henry, Folk-Songs from the Southern Highlands, p. 110.
"The Gypsy Daisy." Contributed by Mrs. Thomas M. Bryant, of Evansville, Indiana. Vanderburg County. January 2, 1936.
1. "Can you leave your house and land,
And can you leave your baby?
Can you leave your own true love
And go with the Gypsy Daisy?"
2. "O yes, I can leave my house and land,
And very well can I leave my baby;
Much better can I leave my own true-love
And go with the Gypsy Daisy."
3. "Go pull off those high-heel shoes
Bound in Spanish leather;
Go put on those low-heel shoes,
And away we'll ride together."
4. "Last night I lay on a featherbed;
Last night I lay with my baby;
Tonight I'll lay in a willow swamp
In the arms of the Gypsy Daisy."