The Gypsy Daisy- Noland (WV) c.1880 Cox B
[From Folk-Songs of the South- Cox, 1925; He also published 3 versions in 1939 designated A1 (see Scarborough G), B1, C1. Cox's notes follow.
R. Matteson 2015]
21. THE GYPSY LADDIE (Child, No. 200)
Four variants have been recovered in West Virginia. They resemble Child J. B differs from A and from Child J in that the lady repents and goes back home. Cf. note by Kittredge, Journal, xxx, 323. Of the English versions they are most like Child G. Cf. The American Star Songster, New York, 185 1, p. 54.
For a list of American texts and for references, English and American, see Journal, xxx, 323. Add Campbell and Sharp, No. 27 (Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia) ; Sharp, Folk-Songs of English Origin collected in the Appalachian Mountains, 2d Series, p. 6 (compounded of Campbell and Sharp, No. 27, A and C); Minish MS. (North Carolina); Bulletin, No. 8, p. 7; No. 9, p. 7; No. n, p. 8.
B. "The Gypsy Daisy." Communicated by Miss Violet Noland, Davis, Tucker County, March 24, 1916; obtained from Mr. John Raese; learned in youth and copied down in 1880. Reported by Cox, xlv, 160.
1 Gypsy Daisy crossed the sea,
Sung a song so sweetly;
Sung a song so sweetly,
To charm his little lady.
Rattle O ding, O ding, O ding,
Rattle ding, Daisy;
Rattle O ding, O ding,
I am gone with the Gypsy Daisy.
2 The lord of the house when he came home,
Inquiring of his lady;
The servant made a quick reply:
"She is gone with the Gypsy Daisy."
3 He mounted on his bonny beast,
His bonny beast so speedy;
He rode all day and he rode all night,
And he overtook his lady.
4 "Have you forsaken your house and lands,
Have you forsaken your baby?
Have you forsaken your own true love,
And gone with the Gypsy Daisy?"
5 She mounted on her bonny beast,
Her bonny beast so speedy;
She rode all day and she rode all night,
Till she came to her home and baby.
6 "Last night I slept on the cold, cold ground,
With all the gypsies all around me;
To-night I sleep in my own feather bed,
With my husband and my baby."