Gypsy Davy- Clark (ON) pre1963 Fowke REC
[My date, I assume this was collected and recorded in the early 1960s. From: A Family Heritage: The Story and Songs of LaRena Clark - p. 34 by Edith Fowke, Jay Rahn, LaRena LeBarr Clark - 1994.
Clark was born in 1904 (d. 1991) at LeBarr Landing, near Lake Simcoe, Ontario, of French and English-Irish parents.This was probably from hearing the singing of her parents and grandparents (ca. 1910-20) but their is no reference to when she learned this ballad.
LeRena's version resembles at the beginning (first stanza) "Yankee Doodle," and also at times "Kitty Clyde," and "Jealous Lover."
R. Matteson 2015]
"Gypsy Davy"- as sung by LaRena Clark; Ontario, CA. No date given, collected by Fowke circa 1963
1. Gypsy Davy came to town
A-riding on a pony.
He whistled while he sang and the green woods rang,
And he won the heart of a lady.
Oh, the lady to her window came
With the servant maids behind her.
She listened while he sang and while he sang and the green woods rang,
And he won the heart of a lady.
Chorus: Oh, fal dal da da, fal da dee die doe,
Fal dal da da, doe day dee.
She listened while he sang and while he sang and the green woods rang,
And he won the heart of a lady.
2. Oh, her lord came home in the middle of the night
Returning to his lady,
But she had gone with the cold cold dawn,
Had gone with the Gypsy Davy.
"Oh, harness up my milk-white steed,
The brown is not so speedy.
I'll ride all day and I'll ride all night
Till I overtake my lady.”
Chorus: Oh, fal dal da da, fal da dee die doe,
Fal dal da da, doe day dee.
"I'll ride all day and I'll ride all night
Till I overtake my lady."
3. Oh, he rode east and he rode west,
And he swore that he would find her,
And by his side then she would ride,
And a thousand cords would bind her.
Oh, he rode east and he rode west,
And he rode till he found his lady.
He drew his sword and his wife he slew
Before the Gypsy Davy.
Chorus: Oh, fal dal da da, fal da dee die doe,
Fal dal da da, doe day dee.
He drew his sword and his wife he slew
Before the Gypsy Davy.
4. "Oh, last night I slept on a feather bed
With the servants all around me.
Tonight I die on the cold cold ground
Beside a Gypsy Davy."
Chorus: Oh, fal dal da da, fal da dee die doe,
Fal dal da da, doe day dee.
"Tonight I die on the cold cold ground
Beside a Gypsy Davy."