Gypsy Draily- Houser (AR) 1958 Bronson 102/ Parler B
[My spelling of title-- Bronson has Draly. From Ozark Folkosngs online- Reel 277 Item 1. Collected by: Merlyn B. Page James R. Hayes; also Bronson 102, he supplies title. Her mother, Lula Davis (Mrs. T. M. Davis) also sang her grandfather's version (see Bronson TTCB, III, p. 236).
Listen: http://digitalcollections.uark.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/OzarkFolkSong/id/1447/rec/10
R. Matteson 2015]
Gypsy Draily- Sung by Oleavia Houser; Fayetteville, Arkansas September 28, 1958. Taught to her by her mother as sung by her grandmother.
Black Jack Davey went a-ridin o’er the plains,
Singin' his song so gayly-O,
He sang so loud he made the echos ring,
And charmed the heart of a lady-O.
He says, "Go with me my pretty little miss,”
And will you be my baby-O? "
I swear by the sword that hangs by my side,
You shall never want for money-O.
Oh will you forsake your house and home?
And will you forsake your baby-O?
Will you forsake the one loves you,
To go with Black Jack Davey-O?
Yes I’ll forsake my house and home,
Yes I’ll forsake my baby-O,
Yes I'll forsake the one loves me,
To go with Black Jack Davey-O.
Then pull off that little black glove you’re wear,
Make out of that Spanish leather-O,
Place your lily white hand in mine,
And here we'll part forever-O.
She pulled off that little black glove she wore,
Made out of that Spanish leather-O,
Placed her little lily white hand in his,
And there they parted forever-O.
Well they rode all night and they rode that day,
Till the sun set in the evening-O,
And then they came to a broad salt lake,
That looked so dark and dreary-O.
Last night I slept on a new feather bed,
Beside my darlin' baby-O,
Tonight I'll sleep on my ole hay-pile,
With the gypsies piled all around me-O.
Oh, once I had a home so fine,
And jewels very costly-O,
Now I sit me down in rags,
Beside the gypsy draily-O[1].
1 Originally drailie; Bronson has draly.