The Gypsy Davy- Hite (AR) 1959 Parler I
[My letter designation, Parler I. From Ozark Folk Song Collection online; Reel 317, Item 6. Collected by Mary Celestia Parler
Listen: [upcoming link]
R. Matteson 2015]
The Gypsy Davy - Sung by Mrs. Maxine Hite of Prairie Grove, Arkansas April 17, 1959 "This is my mother’s version. She says it has also been called 'Davy Gillatly’."
Gypsy Davy came along,
And sang so strange and sweetly,
That he made the greenwoods ring
And charmed the heart of a lady,
And charmed the heart of a lady.
Come, go with me, my pretty little miss,
Come, go with me, my honey,
Come, go with me, my pretty little miss,
And you shall not want for money,
And you shall not want for money.
The lord, on coming home that night,
Inquiring for his lady,
And all that he could hear them say,
She’s gone with the Gypsy Davy,
She's gone with the Gypsy boy.
Go saddle up my milk-white steed,
For the bay is not so speedy,
I'll ride all night and I'll ride all day
For to overtake my lady,
For to overtake my lady.
He rode all night and he rode all day,
Till he came to the river muddy,
And the tears came rolling down his cheeks,
For there he spied his lady,
For there he spied his lady.
Go pull off your low-cut shoes,
All made of Spanish leather,
And put on your high-top boots
And we'll walk and talk together,
And we'll walk and talk together.
Would you forsake your house and lands?
Would you forsake your baby?
Would you forsake the one you love
To go with the Gypsy Davy,
To go with the Gypsy boy?
Oh, I would forsake my house and land,
I would forsake my baby,
I would forsake the one that I love
To go with the Gypsy Davy,
To go with the Gypsy boy.
Last night you slept on a warm feather bed
Beside me and my baby;
Tonight you'll sleep on the cold, cold ground
In the arms of the Gypsy Davy,
In the arms of the Gypsy boy.
I'd rather have one kiss from the Gypsy's lips
Than all your land and money; . . . (Mrs. Hite did not know these two lines.)
Go take off those high-top boots,
All made of Spanish leather,
And let me hold your lily-white hand,
And we'll bid farewell forever,
And we'll bid farewell forever.