Gypsy Davy- Harmon (TN-NC) 1930 Henry A
[From: Folk Songs from the Southern Highlands, 1938 by Mellinger Henry. His notes follow.
Despite the corruption of stanzas 1, 6 and 7 this is a complete Hicks/Harmon version which originated in Watuaga County, North Carolina via Council Harmon/Big Sammy Hicks. Unfortunately Gentry's version (Sharp D) is poorly remembered and Nora Hicks' version (Brown Collection) is only a stanza.
R. Matteson 2015]
22. THE GYPSY LADDIE
(Child, No. 200)
For American texts, see Barry, No. 9; Barry-Eckstorm-Smyth, 269—277; Belden, No. 10; Brown, p. 9; Campbell and Sharp, No. 27; Cox, No. 21; Davis, No. 37; Flanders and Brown, p. 220; Hudson, No. 18; McGill, p. 15; Pound, Syllabus, p. 10; Journal, XVIII, 191 (Barry); XIX, 294 (Belden); XXII, 80 (Barry, melody only); XXIV, 346 (Barry); XXV, 173 (Belden); XXVI, 353 (Pound); XXX, 323 (Kittredge). Add Lunsford and Stringfield, 30 and 1 Folk Songs from the Southern Mountains, New York (Carl Fischer), p. 4; Bradley Kincaid, My Favorite Mountain Ballads and Old-Time Songs, Chicago, 1928, p. 33. Professor I. G. Greer and Mrs. Greer with dulcimer accompaniment have recorded the song on Paramount Records 3195A and 3195B.
Professor Greer is on the faculty of the State Normal School at Boone, N. C, where it has been our privilege to listen to his singing of "The Gypsy Laddie" and a number of other traditional ballads. He is a genuine son of the mountains of North Carolina and has a large collection of native folksongs. Mrs. Greer is a skilled accompanist.
A. "Gypsy Davy." Recorded by Mrs. Henry from the singing of Mrs. Samuel Harmon, Cade's Cove, Blount County, Tennessee, August 12, 1930.
1. Black Jack Davy came a-singing through the woods
And he sang so loud and merry
Till he charmed the heart of a lady,
Till he charmed the heart of a lady.
2. "How old are you, my pretty little miss?
How old are you, my honey?"
She answered me quite modesty:
"I'll be sixteen next Sunday,
I'll be sixteen next Sunday."
3. "Oh, come, go with me, my pretty little miss,
Come, go with me, my honey;
Come, go with me, my pretty little miss,
And you never will lack for money,
And you never will lack for money.
4. "Well, you'd better leave your house and land,
You'd better leave your baby;
You'd better leave your own landlord
And go with Black Jack Davy,
And go with Black Jack Davy."
5. She put on her high-heel shoes
All made of Spanish leather
And then she kissed her sweet little babe
And then they parted forever,
And then they parted forever.
6. The landlord he came home
Late in the evening
Enquiring for his lady,
Enquiring for his lady.
7. The servant then
She answered him:
"She's gone with Black Jack Davy,
She's gone with Black Jack Davy."
8. "You go, saddle me the milk white speed;
The old mare she's not able;
I'll ride till I come to the deep blue sea
Or I'll overtake my lady,
Or I'll overtake my lady.
9. "Have you forsaked your house and land?
Have you forsaked your baby?
Have you forsaked your own true love
And gone with Black Jack Davy,
And gone with Black Jack Davy?"
10. "Yes, I forsaked my house and land;
Yes, I forsaked my baby;
Yes, I forsaked my own landlord
And gone with Black Jack Davy,
And gone with Black Jack Davy."
11. "You pull off those fine, finger gloves
That's made of Spanish leather
And give to me your lily white hand
And we will part forever,
And we will part forever."
12. She pulled off her fine, finger gloves
All made of Spanish leather;
She gave to him her lily white hand
And they were parted forever,
And they were parted forever.
13. "Last night I lay in a fine feather bed
Besides my husband and baby;
But now I lay on the cold, cold ground
With nothing but Black Jack Davy,
With nothing but Black Jack Davy."