Gypsy Davy- Foster (SC) 1936 Scarborough E
[My title. From Scarborough, A Songcatcher; 1937, probably collected circa 1931 (see Bronson). Her notes follow.
R. Matteson 2012, 2015]
Here convention is controverted, since it is the little black mare that is considered more "Sprylie " than the gray one. But the emotional appeal of the feather bed is still warmly held to. Miss Harriet Foster, of Charleston, South Carolina, gave me what she called "an immoral but captivating little song, with which I was often sung to sleep by my mother, Mary Perry Foster, of Summerville, South Carolina."
Gypsy Davy- Harriet Foster of Charleston, SC, pre 1936; learned from her mother, Mary Perry Foster of Summerville, SC.
Gypsy Davy came over the hills,
And out of the woodland shady,
He sang so sweet and he sang so fine,
That he won the heart of a lady.
CHORUS: Oh widdy um, widdy um, widdy ay,
Oh widdy um, widdy ady,
He sang so sweet and he sang so fine,
That he won the heart of a lady.
Milord[1] returning late at night,
Inquiring for his lady-
The maid she made him this reply,
"She's gone with the Gypsy Davy."
Oh, widdy um, widdy um, widdy ay,
Oh, widdy um, widdy ady.
The maid she made him this reply,
"She's gone with the Gypsy Davy."
"Then harness me my blackest steed,
My gray is not so speedy.
I'll ride all night and I'll ride all day
But I'll overtake my lady."
Oh, widdy um, widdy um, widdy ay,
Oh, widdy um, widdy ady.
"I'll ride all night and I'll ride all day
But I'll overtake my lady."
He rode all day and he rode all night,
And he rode till he came to a sad, muddy site,
And he beheld his lady--
The tears came down his cheeks like rain
As he beheld his lady.
Oh, widdy um, widdy um, widdy ay,
Oh, widdy um, widdy ady.
The tears came down his cheeks like rain
As he beheld his lady.
"Do you forsake your house-your home,
Do you forsake your baby?
Do you forsake your own wedded lord
To go with the Gypsy Davy? "
Oh, widdy um, widdy um, widdy ay,
Oh, widdy um, widdy ady.
"Do you forsake your own wedded lord
To go with the Gypsy Davy? "
"Yes, I forsake my house, my home,
Yes, I forsake my baby; ,
Yes, I forsake my own wedded lord
To go with the Gypsy Davy."
Oh, widdy um, widdy um, widdy ay,
Oh, widdy um, widdy ady.
"Yes, I forsake my own wedded lord
To go with the Gypsy Davy."
"Do you not love your house--your home?
Do you not love Your baby?
Do you not love your own wedded lord
As you love the Gypsy Davy?"
Oh, widdy um, widdy um, widdy ay,
Oh, widdy um, widdy ady.
"Do you not love your own wedded lord
As you love the Gypsy Davy?"
"I do not love my house my home,
I do not love my baby;
I do not love my own wedded lord
As I love the Gypsy Davy."
Oh, widdy um, widdy um, widdy ay,
Oh, widdy um, widdy ady.
"I do not love my own wedded lord
As I love the Gypsy Davy."
1 My lord