10C. Wraggle Taggle Gypsies, O- Dennis (KY) 1922
[From: Traditional Ballads & Folk Songs Mainly from West Virginia- John Harrington Cox- 1939 Edited by George Herzog and Herbert Halpert 1939 and George Boswell, 1964.
R. Matteson 2014]
10C - THE RAGGLE TAGGLE GYPSIES, O
(The Gypsy Laddie, Child, No. 200)
Taken from a manuscript song book, compiled by Miss Camilla Dennis from the singing of school children at Hindman, Knott County, Kentucky, 1922-23.
There were three gypsies came to my door,
And down stairs ran this lady, O!
The one sang high and the other sang low,
And the other sang bonny, bonny Biscay, O!
Then she pulled off her silk-finished gown
And put on hose of leather, O!
The ragged, ragged rags about the door,
She's gone with the wraggle, taggle gypsies, O!
It was late at night when my 1ord came home,
Inquiring for his a-lady, O!
The servants said on every hand,
She's gone with the raggle, taggle gypsies, O!
"O saddle to mo my milk-white steed,
Go and fetch me my pony, O!
That I may ride and seek my bride,
She's gone with the raggle, taggle gypsies, O!
O he rode high and he rode low,
He rode through woods and copses, too,
Until he came to an open field,
And there he espied his a-lady, O!
"What makes you leave your home and land,
What makes you leave your money, O?
What makes you leave your new-wedded lord,
To go with the wraggle, taggle gypsies, O?
What care I for my house and my land?
Whet care I for my money, O?
What care I for my new-wedded Lord?
I'm off with the wraggle, taggle gypsies, O!
"Last night you slept on a goose-feather bed,
With the sheets tuned down so bravely, O!
And to-night you'll sleep in a cold, open field,
Along with the wraggle, taggle gypsies, O!"
"What care I for a goose-feather bed,
With sheets turned down so bravely, O?
For to-night I shall sleep in a cold, open field,
Along with the wraggle, taggle gypsies, O!"
See NC II 161.