The Lady's Disgrace- Ingersoll (NY) 1936 Scarborough F
[My title. From Scarborough, A Songcatcher; 1937, probably collected circa 1931 (see Bronson). Her notes follow.
Originally from Pike County, IL, this version was in her family for several generations.
R. Matteson 2012, 2015]
Mrs. Genevieve Ingersoll, of Scarsdale, New York, contributed a version which had come down in her family for several generations, as learned from the singing of a cousin of her grandmother's, from Pike County, Illinois. It constitutes one of a collection that she sang into the Speak-O-Phone for me (as did Miss Harriet Foster) and which she calls "Pike county Ballads." The title renders judgment on the wife.
The Lady's Disgrace- Genevieve Ingersoll of Scarsdale, NY; pre1936 Scarborough F
The Lord came home so late at night;
Inquiring for his lady,
The chambermaid gave him this reply:
"She's gone with a drunken Davy."
CHORUS: Ra diddle ding, didddle ding ding day,
Ra diddle ding, ding dadey;
Ra diddle ding, didddle ding ding day,
Ra diddle ding, ding dadey.
"Have you forsaken your house and home,
Have you forsaken your baby?
Have you forsaken your new landlord,
To go with a drunken Davy?"
CHORUS:
"So saddle me my little grey mare;
For the brown one ain't so speedy;
For I've rode all day and I'll ride all night,
Till I overtake my lady."
CHORUS:
He rode away on his little gray mare
To overtake his lady,
Who heard the horse on the turnpike road
In search of her drunken Davey.
CHORUS:
They lashed the mare, and the woods were near,
My Lord's horse wasn't so speedy.
They plunged in the strem[1] and the mare fell down,
Alas for the drunken Davey.
CHORUS:
Now all ye wives who hear this tale,
Be content to be a lady,
And never let your hearts be set
On a careless drunken Davey.
Ra diddle ding, diddle ding, ding, dey,
Ra diddle ding, ding, dadey.
And never let your hearts be set
On a careless drunken Davey.
1. stream