The Gypsy Laddie- Swetnam (MS-KY) 1936 Hudson A
[From: Folksongs of Mississippi; Hudson 1936. His notes follow. One of the rare US versions with "Gypsy Laddie" in the text.
R. Matteson 2015]
THE GYPSY LADDIE
(Child, No. 200)
Two texts have been found in Mississippi. For a discussion of the ballad see p. 56. American variants are noted or given by: Brown, p. 91; Campbell and Sharp, No. 27; Cox, No. 19; Davis, No. 37; Sharp, Songs, I, p. 28; Barry No. 33.
A. [Gypsy Laddie] Communicated by Mr. George F. Swetnam, University, from the singing of his mother, Mrs. Flora Stafford Swetnam, now a resident of Vaiden, but a native of Kentucky.
1 "It's can you leave your house and lands,
And can you leave your husband, O?
And can you leave your three little babes,
To go with the gypsy laddie, O?"
2 "Yes, I can leave my house and lands,
And I can leave my husband, O;
And I can leave my three little babes
And go with the gypsy laddie, O."
3. "Go catch, go catch my milk-white steed,
And saddle me up my money, O,
That I may ride both night and day
Till I o'ertake my honey, O."
4. He rode, he rode three long summer days,
Till he came to the camp of the gypsies, O,
And there he found his own true love,
With the gypsies all around her, O.
5. "Go home with me, my dearest dear,
Go home with me, my honey, O;
I'll lock you up in your chamber severe,
And the gypsies they can't find you, O."
6. "I won't go home, my dearest dear,
I won't go home, my honey, O,
For I wouldn't give a kiss from the gypsy's lips
For all your land and money, O.
7. "Once I had fine feather beds,
And silken garments to clothe me, O;
But now I sleep on a bed of straw,
With the gypsies all around me, O."