Black Jack Davey- Kendall (NC) 1937 Matteson
[This version, from a typed manuscript in my grandfather's notebook, is the nearly the same as the one published by Lunsford in 1929 and Lunsford's 1935 recording (Listen below). According to Bronson, Lunsford learned his version from Selma Clubb, Buncombe Co. c. 1925.
I changed the order of the verses to appear as Lunsford's which was indicated by an insert symbol. My grandfather was a friend and associate of Lunsford's in the mid-1930s. According to the handwritten notes, Otis Kendall performed this in NYC on Jan. 12, 1937 at the house of Arthur Page in NY City. Otis resided on Route #2 in Asheville, NC. The handwritten notes were written by my grandmother, I presume for Ballad Bagging programs.
At the bottom of this page is Lunsford's version recorded in 1935 which is almost identical, with some of the same exact verses. I assume Lunsford edited the traditional text (see especially Verse 1, line 3 which was "improved".
Was Otis Kendall the source? Did he learn Lunsford's version? For now, it's just a mystery.
R. Matteson 2012]
Black Jack Davey- Otis Kendall (NC) 1-12-1937 Matteson
Black Jack David came a-ridin' through the woods
He sang so loud and merrily.
He charmed the heart of a pretty little maid,
He charmed the heart of a lady,
He charmed the heart of a lady.
If you will come go with me
Come go with me my honey.
We'll go away to the deep blue sea,
And you'll never want for money,
And you'll never want for money.
She put on her Sunday shoes
All made of Spanish leather.
And he put his old cork boots,
And they both rode off together
And they both rode off together.
The landlord come a-ridin',
And inquiring for his lady.
When one of his maids then said to him,
"She's gone with the Black Jack Davie,
"She's gone with the Black Jack Davie."
Bridal and saddle my old gary mare,
And hand me down my derby.
And I'll ride east and I'll ride west,
Until I find my lady
Until I find my lady.
He rode east and he rode west,
He rode to the deep blue sea.
And there he found with tears in his eyes,
And there he found his lady,
And there he found his lady.
"Will you forsake your house and home,
Your husband and your baby?
Will you forsake all else on earth
And go with Black Jack Davie
And go with Black Jack Davie?"
Last night I slept in on a feather bed,
Between my husband and baby;
I'll sleep tonight on the cold, cold ground,
Beside my Black Jack Davie
Beside my Black Jack Davie.
-----------------
BLACK JACK DAVY- Bascom Lamar Lunsford
Listen: Bascom Lamar Lunsford; 1935 Black Jack David
(banjo and vocal)
Black Jack David came a-ridin' through the woods
He sang so loud and merrily.
His voice rang out on the green grass lea.
And he charmed the heart of a lady,
He charmed the heart of a lady.
Oh will you come go with me
Come go with me my honey.
We'll go away to the deep blue sea,
You'll never want for money,
You'll never want for money.
As she put on her Sunday shoes
All made of Spanish leather.
And he put his old cord boots,
And they both rode off together
And they both rode off together.
The landlord come a-ridin' in,
Inquirin' for his lady.
Well one of his maids then said to him,
"She's gone with the Black Jack Davy,
"She's gone with the Black Jack Davy."
Then bridal and saddle my old gary mare,
And hand me down my derby.
And I'll ride east and I'll ride west,
Until I overtake my lady
Til I overtake my lady.
He rode east and he rode west,
He rode to the deep blue sea.
And there he found with tears in his eyes,
O there he found his lady,
O there he found his lady.
Will you forsake your house and home,
Your husband and your baby?
Will you forsake all else on earth
And go with Black Jack Davy
And go with Black Jack Davy?
Last night I slept in a warm feather bed,
Between my husband and baby.
I'll sleep tonight on the cold, cold ground,
Beside the Black Jack Davy
Beside the Black Jack Davy.