Black Jack Davey- Seeger (Wash, DC) 1988 REC
[I don't have the liner-notes for Mike's Fresh Oldtime String Band Music on Rounder 0262, LP (1988), trk# 3. Surely this is a traditional version or compilation of versions adapted by Mike.
R. Matteson 2012]
BLACK JACK DAVEY- Mike Seeger
Listen: Mike Seeger; 1988 Black Jack Davey
(banjo and vocal)
Black Jack Davey came a-ridin' through the woods
A-whistlin' and a-singin'.
Make the woods around him ring,
And charmed the heart of a lady,
Charmed the heart of a lady.
How old are you my pretty little miss
How old are you my honey?
She answered him with a lovin' smile,
I'll be sixteen of Sunday,
Be sixteen of Sunday.
Come go with me my pretty little miss,
Come go with me my honey.
Take you where the grass grows green,
And you'll never want for money,
You'll never want for money.
Pull off, pull off those high-heel shoes
All made of the Spanish leather.
Get behind me on my horse,
And we'll ride off together,
We'll both ride off together.
She pulled off those high-heel shoes,
All made of the Spanish leather.
Got behind him on his horse,
And they ride off together,
They both ride off together.
[brief break]
That night her husband he came home,
Inquirin' for his lady.
Servants spoke before she thought,
"She's with the Black Jack Davey,
"Rode off with the Black Jack Davey."
Go saddle me up my coal black stud,
He speedier than the gray.
I rode all day and I'll ride all night,
And I'll overtake my lady,
I'll bring home my lady.
[Instr. break]
Well he rode all night 'til broad daylight
Til he came to the river of *Aiken
There he spied his darlin' bride
In the arms of Black Jack Davey,
Wrapped up with the Black Jack Davey.
Pull off pull, off those *long hand gloves
All made of the Spanish leather.
Give to me your lily-white hand,
And home together,
We'll both go home together.
Well she pulled off those long hand gloves,
All made of the Spanish leather.
Gave to him her lily-white hand,
And said goodbye forever,
Bid farewell forever.
"Would you forsaken your house and home,
Would you forsaken your baby?
Would you forsake your husband too,
To go with the Black Jack Davey,
Ride off with the Black Jack Davey?"
"Well I've forsaken my husband dear
And I've forsaken my baby.
I'll forsake my husband too,
For I love Black Jack Davey,
I love Black Jack Davey."
"Last night I slept on a feather bed
Between my husband and baby.
Tonight I lay on the river banks
In the arms of Black Jack Davey
I love my Black Jack Davey."
* hard to understand lyrics here