The Gypsy Davy- hired men (IL) c.1880 Cox A
[From Folk-Songs of the South- Cox, 1925; He also published 3 versions in 1939 designated A1 (see Scarborough G), B1, C1. Cox's notes follow.
R. Matteson 2015]
21. THE GYPSY LADDIE (Child, No. 200)
Four variants have been recovered in West Virginia. They resemble Child J. B differs from A and from Child J in that the lady repents and goes back home. Cf. note by Kittredge, Journal, xxx, 323. Of the English versions they are most like Child G. Cf. The American Star Songster, New York, 185 1, p. 54.
For a list of American texts and for references, English and American, see Journal, xxx, 323. Add Campbell and Sharp, No. 27 (Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia) ; Sharp, Folk-Songs of English Origin collected in the Appalachian Mountains, 2d Series, p. 6 (compounded of Campbell and Sharp, No. 27, A and C); Minish MS. (North Carolina); Bulletin, No. 8, p. 7; No. 9, p. 7; No. n, p. 8.
A. "The Gypsy Davy." Contributed by the Editor of this volume; learned about 1880, from hired men, while living on a farm in Illinois. Reported, xliv, 428.
1 The Gypsy Davy crossed the plain,
He sang so loud and sweetly;
He sang till he made the green woods ring,
To charm the heart of a lady.
Tum-a-roe-eye ink-a-toodle ink-a-toodle-a
Tum-a-roe-eye ink-a-toodle-a-dy
2 The lord of the house came home at night,
Inquiring for his lady;
The servants all made quick reply,
"She's gone with the Gypsy Davy."
3 "Go saddle me up my milk-white steed,
The brown he ain't so speedy;
I've rode all day and I 'll ride all night,
Or overtake my lady."
4 They saddled him up his milk-white steed,
His milk-white steed so speedy;
He rode all night and he rode all day,
To overtake his lady.
5 He rode till he came to the river side,
That runs so deep and shady;
The tears came trickling down his cheeks,
For there he met his lady.
6 "Have you forsaken your house and lands,
Have you forsaken your baby?
Have you forsaken your own true-love,
And gone with the Gypsy Davy?"
7 "Yes, I've forsaken my house and lands,
And I've forsaken my baby;
And I've forsaken my own true-love,
And gone with the Gypsy Davy."
8 The lord of the house rode home that night,
Rode home without his lady,
For she remained by the river side,
In the arms of the Gypsy Davy.