The Gypsy Davy- Miller (NC) c.1921 Sutton/Brown F
[From Brown Collection of NC Folklore; Vol. 2, 1952; music is from Vol. 4 at bottom of this page. Their notes follow. Sutton wrote and article on 01-13-1935 in the (Raleigh) News and Observer: article, with song, by Maude Minish Sutton, about a ballad, "The Gypso Davie," that is almost as well known in the Blue Ridge as Barbary Allen, having a great many variants and being one of the few traditional English ballads that have some slight historical background. Clearly, this is a different version.
Maude Minish Sutton of Caldwell County, N.C., was a teacher, writer, and folklorist. She taught in Chapel Hill, China Grove, Avery County, and Lenoir, N.C. Sutton was also a contributor to North Carolina newspapers and on the staff of the Lenoir News-Topic. She married Dennis Howard Sutton.
Many of her ballads are housed in the Harvard Library.
R. Matteson 2015]
37. The Gypsy Laddie (Child 200)
Still widely known and sung; see BSM 73-4, and add to the citations there given Massachusetts (FSONE 207-9), Tennessee (SFLQ XI 130-1), North Carolina (FSRA 217, one stanza only), Florida (SFLQ viii 156), Arkansas (OFS I 152-3, 155-60), Missouri (OFS I 155-9), Ohio (BSO 67-9), Indiana (BSI 134), and Kittredge's bibliographical note JAFL xxx 323. Texts from the Southern states are likely to include, rather incongruously, stanzas from the wooing song 'Where are you Going, my Pretty Maid?' So in Tennessee (FSSH iii), Mississippi (FSM 118-19), and North Carolina (SCSM 218 and versions A B D E G below).
F. 'The Gypsy Davy.' Secured by Mrs. Sutton from the singing of Mrs. J. J. Miller (the 'Myra' from whom Mrs. Sutton got so many of her songs) at King's Creek, Caldwell county. "She learned it from her aunt, Mrs. John Barrett, in the Brushy Mountains." Nine stanzas. The earlier part of the story is missing in this version; it begins with the husband coming home to find his lady gone. The last three stanzas vary somewhat from the customary form; they are a dialogue between
the husband and the wife:
[5 So late in the night when the landlord came[1]
inquiring for his lady--
The answer was quickly replied:
"She has gone with the Gypsy Davie."]
7 'Last night I lay on a warm feather bed.
My arms were around my baby;
Tonight I shall lie on some cold river bank
In the arms of a Gypsy Davie.'
8 'Pull off, pull off those fine kid gloves,
They're made of Spanish leather,
And give to me your lily-white hand
And we'll shake hands together.'
9 'I can pull off those fine kid gloves,
They're made of Spanish leather,
And give to you my lily-white hand —
Bid you farewell forever.'
1. This stanza is included with the music (see below)
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F. 'The Gypsy Davy.' Sung by Mrs. J. J. Miller. Recorded at King's Creek, Caldwell county; no date. This stanza is the fifth of version B, in II, 162-3.
Scale: Hexachordal. Tonal Center: d. Structure abb1a1 (2,2,2,2).