Black Jack David- Pennington (AR) 1954 Parler C; Bronson 117
[From: LC/AAFS, rec. No. 11,804(F7). Also see Ozark Folksongs online. Text from Bronson, TTCB, III, 1963.
Listen: http://digitalcollections.uark.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/OzarkFolkSong/id/3324/rec/7
R. Matteson 2015]
"Black Jack David" -- Sung by John Pennington, Fayetteville, Ark., July 20, 1954. Collected by Mary Celeste Parler.
Now the Black Jack David come riding through the plains,
He sings so loud and merry,
That he made the green woods around him ring,
And he charmed the heart of a lady,
And he charmed the heart of a lady.
How old are you, my pretty little Miss,
How old are you, my honey?
She answered him most modestly[1],
I'll be seventeen next Monday,
I'll be seventeen next Monday.
Come and go with me, my pretty little Miss,
Come and go with me, my honey,
I'll swear by the sword that hangs to my side
That you never will need for money,
That you never will need for money.
The old landlord came home that night
Inquiring of his lady.
He soon found out from the waiting-maid,
She's gone with Black Jack David,
She's gone with Black Jack David.
Go saddle up my milk-white horse,
The one that runs so speedy.
I'll ride all day and I'll ride all night,
Or I'll overtake my lady,
Or I'll overtake my lady.
He rode till he come till the ocean wide
Where the waters look deep and muddy,
He turned hisself in the valleys green
And there he spied his lady,
And there he spied his lady.
O how can you leave your house and land,
And how can you leave your Mommy?
And how can you leave your tender little babe,
And go with Black Jack David,
And go with Black Jack David?
I do not care for my house and land
I do not care for my money,
I do not care for my tender little babe,
I'll go with Black Jack David,
I'll go with Black Jack David.
O you pull off them high-heel'd shoes
That is made out of Spanish leather,
And reach to me your lily-white hand,
And bid me farewell for ever,
And bid me farewell for ever.
10. And she pulled off her high-heeled shoes
That was made out of Spanish leather,
And she reached to him her lily-white hand,
And they both rode off together.
1. Parler has "marvelously"