Black Jack Davy- Davis (AR) 1953 Parler A/Bronson 101.
[My A designation. From Ozark Folksongs online. Reel 202, Item 11. Transcribed by Nathaniel Lucy. Also with minor differences in Bronson TTCB, No. 101 --from a recording made 9 months earlier. Both of her daughters sang versions; Mary Jo Davis Henderson and Oleavia Davis Hauser. Their recordings are on the Ozark Folksong Collection.
Listen: http://digitalcollections.uark.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/OzarkFolkSong/id/4008/rec/8
This version was covered by George and Gerry Armstrong on Simple Gifts, 1961.
R. Matteson 2015]
From: Mid-America folklore: Volume 29 Ozark States Folklore Society
Both "Black Jack Davy" sung by T. M. Davis and "Gipsy Draly" sung by Mary Jo's sister Oliva Houser are different from the versions Mary Jo Henderson remembers. There is a note after the variant from T M. Davis explaining that she learned two versions of the song during her childhood. The version she sings was learned from her father, and the version she taught to her daughter.
Black Jack Davy- Sung by Lula Davis of Fayetteville, Arkansas July 1, 1954 (also same informant listed as Mrs. T. M. Davis in Bronson dated Nov. 15, 1953.) This version was learned from her father. She taught her mother's version to her daughter Oleava Hauser (see Bronson TTCB, III, p. 238). Collected by Mary Celestia Parler.
Black Jack Davy came a riding on the plain
Singing his song so gay
He sang so loud he made the echoes ring
And charmed the heart of a lady-O.
He says “Little miss will you go with me?
Will you be my baby-O?
I swear by the sword that hangs by my side
You’ll never want for money-O.”
Will you forsake your house and home?
Will you forsake your baby-O?
Will you forsake the one that loves you
To go with Black Jack Davy-O?
Oh yes, I’ll forsake my house and home
Yes I’ll forsake my baby-O;
Yes I’ll forsake the one that loves me
To go with black Jack Davy-O.
Then pull of that little black glove you wear
Made out of Spanish leather-O;
Place your little white hand in mine
And here we’ll part forever-O.
She pulled off that little black glove she wore
Made out of that Spanish leather-O
Placed that little white hand in his
And there they parted forever-O.
Well they rode all night and they rode all day
Til the sun set in the evening-O,
There they came to a broad salt lake
That looked so dark and dreary-O.
Once I had a home so fine
And jewels very costly-O;
Now I sit me down in rags
By the side of the gypsy draily-O.
Last night I slept on a new featherbed
Beside my darling baby-O;
Tonight I sleep on an old straw bed
With the gypsies piled all around me- O.