Gypsy Davy- Older (NY) 1963 REC
[From Adirondack Songs, Ballads, and Fiddle Tunes; Folk-Legacy Records, FSA-15, 1963. Also on Ballads and Songs of Tradition; Folk-Legacy Records, 2000. Their notes follow. Compare to Milton Okun's 1963 version- which is nearly identical.
R. Matteson 2015]
Songs and ballads, plus a few fiddle tunes, traditional in the Adirondack region where Larry Older cut and peeled pine logs for the pulp mills and tanneries before going to work in the locomotive factory where he concluded his working life. Wonderful versions of Child ballads, broadside ballads, and regional songs, sung with the charming twang of the Adirondack woodsman and generally accompanied by guitar.
Gypsy Davy; Lawrence Older; with guitar, 1963
He came walking o'er the hills,
Singing loud and gaily
Made the iles[1] of the greenwoods ring,
And he charmed the heart of a lady.
CHORUS: Rattle-attle-lingo ling
Rattle-attle-lingo Davy
Rattle-attle-lingo ling,
She gone with the Gypsy Davy.
Go harness up the old gray mare,
The black is not so speedy
I'll ride all day I'll ride all night
Till I overtake my lady.
CHORUS
Last night she slept on a warm feather bed
And on her arm a baby.
Tonight she sleeps on the cold, cold ground
Beside the Gypsy Davy.
1. pronounced "iles" with long I.