The Radical Gypsy David- Vass (VA) 1959 Shellans
[From: Folk Songs of the Blue Ridge Mountains by Herbert Shellans; 2007.
"Radical" is apparently derived from "raggle-taggle." See also Davis D, from Hart, in VA, 1921. Listen to the Recording: The Radical Gypsy David, A Sampler of Folk Music, 1976.
R. Matteson 2015]
The Radical Gypsy David- Sung by John Daniel Vass of Hillsville, Virginia on March 29, 1959.
When Lord Thomas he came home,
Inquiring for his lady,
The answer that they made to him,
"She gone with the Gypsy David,
With the radical Gypsy David,
With the radical Gypsy David."
Then he caught up his old grey horse,
And he caught up his pony;
He rode all night and he rode all day,
Till he overtook his honey.
The radical Gypsy David,
The radical Gypsy David.
"It's come back home my dearest dear
It's come back home, my honey;
It's come back home, my dearest dear,
And you'll never lack for money.
Leave the radical Gypsy David,
The radical Gypsy David.
"I won't go back, my dearest dear,
Lord, I won't go back, my honey;
I will not give a kiss to you,
For the Gypsy's lips are honey.
For you and all your money,
For you and all your money."
"It's go pull off those snow-white gloves,
All made of Spanish leather,
And give to me your lily-white hand,
And bid me farewell forever.
To the radical Gypsy David,
The radical Gypsy David.
She then pulled off those snow-white gloves,
All made of Spanish leather,
And gave to him her lily-white hand,
And she bid farewell forever.
With the radical Gypsy David,
With the radical Gypsy David.
"And now I've left my house and lands,
My featherbed and money,
And now I've come to the old straw pads,
With the Gypsies all around me.
With the radical Gypsy David,
The radical Gypsy David."