Black Jack Daisy- Pitkin (CA/AR) 1941 Todd
[From: Voices from the Dust Bowl: The Charles L. Todd and Robert Sonkin Migrant Worker Collection, 1940-1941; Learned when she was 3 years old. Her great grandfather used to sing it.
R. Matteson 2012]
BLACK JACK DAISY- Mrs. Myra Pitkin, 46 years old; Arvin FSA Camp, Shafter, CA 1941; Pipkins are from Arkansas. Mrs. Pipkins was a gold mine of old English ballads. Many thought of her as a prototype of "Ma Joad" in the "Grapes of Wrath". [Listen: Mrs. Myra Pitkin]
Saddle up my old gray mule
The sorrel is not so speedy
I'll ride along this lonesome night
A-looking for my lady
A-looking for my lady.
I rode till I come to the river side
And there I spied my lady
Sitting on the banks of the river
A-talkin' to the Black Jack Daisy
A-talkin' to Black Jack Daisy.
Will you forsake your own true love
Will you forsake your baby
Will you forsake your own true love
For to go with Black Jack Daisy
For to go with Black Jack Daisy?
Yes I'll forsake my own true love
Yes I'll forsake my baby
Yes I'll forsake my own true love
For to go with Black Jack Daisy
For to go with Black Jack Daisy.
It's pull off those skyblue gloves
All made of Spanish leather
And give to me your lily white hand
To bid farewell forever
To bid farewell forever.
Yes I'll pull off those sky blue gloves
All made of Spanish leather
And give to you my lily white hand
To bid farewell forever
To bid farewell forever.
Last night she slept on a snow-white bed
By the side of me and the baby
Tonight she sleeps on the cold damp ground
By the side of Black Jack Daisy
By the side of Black Jack Daisy.