Blackjack Daisy- Harmon (NC-AR) c.1924 Burton
[From; Some Ballad Folks; Burton, 1978.
Lena Presnell Harmon (b. Oct. 31, 1911) moved to Arkansas with her father when she was two. In Arkansas she and her brother, Dewey Presnell, learned songs from their neighbor Ida McIntyre. They moved back to NC about 1925 (ref. Burton).
R. Matteson 2015]
"Blackjack Daisy" ("The Gypsy Laddie," Child 200) sung by Lena Harmon, NC; learned from her neighbor in Arkansas, Ida Mclntyre.
1. Young Jack went whistlin' o'er the hills; he sings so loud and merry.
Sings so loud, he sings so sweet; he charmed the heart of a lady,
Charmed the heart of a lady.
2. "How old are you, my pretty little miss; how old are you, my honey?"
Smilingly, she answered him; "I'll be sixteen next Sunday,
Be sixteen next Sunday."
3. "Will you forsake your land and lord; will you forsake your baby;
Will you forsake your house and land and go with Blackjack Daisy,
Go with the Blackjack-Daisy?"
4. 'Yes, I'll forsake my house and land, and I'll forsake my baby.
I'll forsake my land and lord and go with Blackjack Daisy,
Go with the Blackjack Daisy."
5. He put on his high-topped boots made gut of Spanish leather;
she put on her high-heeled shoes, and they tripped off together,
And they tripped off together.
6. First come in was the land and lord inquirin' for his lady;
Soon he heared the story told: she'd gone with the Blackjack Daisy,
Gone with the Blackjack Daisy.
7. "I'll saddle up my milk-white horse; the yellow's not so speedy.
Ride all day, I'll ride all night till I overtake my lady,
Till I overtake my lady."
8. He rode east and he rode west; he rode through dark and muddy.
He rode up by an open field, and there he spied his lady,
And there he spied his lady.
9. "Will you forsake your house and land; will you forsake your baby;
Will you forsake your land and lord and go with the Blackjack Daisy,
Go with the Blackjack Daisy?"
10. "Yes, I'll forsake my house and land, and I'll forsake my baby.
I'll forsake my land and lord and go with the Blackjack Daisy,
Go with the Blackjack Daisy."
11. "Last night you slept on a feather bed by the side of your baby;
Tonight you'll sleep on the cold, cold ground by the side of Blackjack Daisy,
By the side of Blackjack Davy."
12. She pulled off her sky-blue gloves made out of Spanish leather;
Gave to him her little white hand and bade farewell forever,
And bade farewell forever.
". . . she (McIntyre) sang that lots of time, and I was very interested" but it wouldn't take Lena long, according to her own testimony, to learn a song from Ida or anyone else. Lena claims convincingly (similar to others who know many songs) that she could repeat a song almost with only one hearing.