Black Jack Daisy- Johnson (AR) 1957 Wolf C REC
[My title. From John Quincy Wolf, Jr. collection online. Listen to the original recording:
http://web.lyon.edu/wolfcollection/songs/johnsonblack1240.html
The last two stanzas are floating stanzas not usually found in this ballad.
R. Matteson 2015]
BLACK JACK DAISY -Sung by Ray Johnson. Recorded in Batesville, AR 9/5/57
Go catch my horse, my iron-gray horse;
Go catch him slow and lazy.
I'll ride all day and I'll ride all night,
Or I'll overtake my lady,
Or I'll overtake my lady.
I rode all day and I rode all night,
And I rode 'til dawn in the morning.
The tears came running down my cheeks,
When I overtook my lady,
When I overtook my lady.
Will you forsake your house and home?
Will you forsake your baby?
Will you forsake your own landlord,
And ride with the Black Jack Davy.
We'll ride with the Black Jack Daisy.
[Note: Mr. Johnson does say "Daisy" rather than "Davy."]
I will forsake my house and home;
I will forsake my baby.
I will forsake my own landlord,
And ride with the Black Jack Daisy,
And ride with the black Jack Daisy.
If ever I marry again in this, God's world,
It'd be neither for love nor beauty.
If I'd a-taken a stick and a-whipped my wife,
I think I'd a-done my duty.
I think I'd a-done my duty.
If ever I marry again in this, God's world,
It'd be neither for love nor riches.
I'll marry a girl sixteen feet tall,
Too tall for to wear my britches,
Too tall for to wear my britches.