The Gypsy Laddie

"The Gypsy Laddie" (Roud [1], Child 200), also known as "Black Jack Davy" and "The Raggle Taggle Gypsies" among many other titles, is a Border ballad [2], possibly written about 1720 on the Scottish side of the border. The ballad has often been used and recorded in many different variations in Scotland and England from the 18th century, the United States, Canada from the 19th century, and more recently Ireland from the 1970s.

Contents

History

The ballad was first recorded in Nithsdale, now located in Dumfriesshire Scotland in 1814[3] by Francis James Child's compilation, a five-volume The English and Scottish Popular Ballads (1882–1898), provides an excellent history of this ballad. The Gypsy Laddie is ballad number 200 in the collection, and Child describes that the printed versions of this ballad probably date back to at least 1720 and is traditional Scottish folk tune.[4] The earliest known printing was in Tea Table Miscellany (1740). "Lady Cassilles' Lilt" (aka "Johnny Faa, the Gypsiey Laddie") is among the Skene manuscripts from the 17th century.[5]

Nick Tosches in his Country: The Twisted Roots of Rock 'N' Roll, spends part of his first chapter examining the song's history. He compares the song's narrative to the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. The ballad, according to Tosches, retells the story of John Faw, a 17th century outlaw, described as a Scottish Gypsy, and Lady Jane Hamilton, wife of John Kennedy, 6th Earl of Cassilis. Lord Cassilis led a band of men (some sources say 16, other 7) to abduct her. They were caught and hanged on the "Dool Tree" in 1643. The "Gypsies" were killed (except for one, who escaped) and Lady Jane Hamilton was imprisoned for the remainder of her life, dying in 1642.

Robert Burns used the song in his Reliques of Robert Burns; consisting chiefly of original letters, poems, and critical observations on Scottish songs (1808).

Due to the Romanichal origins of the main protagonist Davie or Johnny Faa, the balad was translated into Anglo-Romany in 1890 by the Gypsy Lore Society.[6][7]

Description

The song tells of a Gypsy who charms the unmarried daughter of a squire. He promises her wealth and she goes off with him. When the squire comes home and discovers what has happened he rides off in search of his daughter, and after a long chase he finds her. The final encounter is where the daughter refuses to come home, saying "What care I for your fine feather sheets?"

In other versions she is married, and her lord comes home to find his lady "gone with the gypsy laddie." He saddles his fastest horse to follow her. He finds her and bids her come home, asking "Would you forsake your husband and child?" She will not return, preferring the cold ground and the gypsy's company to her lord's wealth and fine bed.

In another version the gypsy has six brothers, and when the squire has caught up with them he has all seven of the raggle taggle Gypsies hanged. In some versions the gypsy turns out to be genuinely wealthy. The song "Lizzie Lindsay" has a similar theme. Robert Burns adapted the song into "Sweet Tibby Dunbar," a shorter version of the story.

There is also children's version by Elizabeth Mitchell which has lyrical content changed to be about a young girl "charming hearts of the ladies", and sailing "across the deep blue sea, where the skies are always sunny".

Although the hero of this song is often called "Johnny Faa" or even "Davy Faa," he should not be confused with the hero/villain of "Davy Faa (Remember the Barley Straw)." [Silber and Silber misidentify all their texts] as deriving from "Child 120," which is actually "Robin Hood's Death." According to The Faber Book of Ballads the name Faa was common among Gypsies in the 17th century.

Alternative titles

  • "Black Jack Davy"
  • "Black Jack Davey"
  • "Black Jack David"
  • "Blackjack David"
  • "Clayton Boone"
  • "The Gypsy Davy"
  • "The Gypsy Rover"
  • "Johnny Faa"
  • "Davy Faa"
  • "The Raggle Taggle Gipsies"
  • "The Raggle Taggle Gypsies"
  • "The Wraggle Taggle Gypsy"
  • "The Lady and the Gypsy"
  • "Three Gypsies"
  • "Harrison Brady"
  • "Gypson Davy"
  • "Gypsy Davey"
  • "Black-Eyed Davy"
  • "Black Eyed Daisy"
  • "Black-eyed Gypsy"
  • "The Heartless Lady"
  • "Egyptian Davio"
  • "It Was Late in the Night"
  • "When Johnny Came Home"
  • "The Gyps of Davy"
  • "The Dark-Clothed Gypsy"
  • "Seven Yeller Gypsies"
  • "Black Jack Baby"

Relation to other folk traditions

The theme of the wandering gypsy or labourer is frequently found in folk music.

Recordings

    • Pete Seeger, "Gypsy Davy" (on Pete Seeger Sings American Ballads, 1957)
(also "Black Jack Daisy" (on Remembrance of Things to Come, 1966)

Broadsides

Notes

  1. ^ 1
  2. ^ The English and Scottish popular ballads By Francis James Child
  3. ^ The English and Scottish popular ballads By Francis James Child
  4. ^ The English and Scottish popular ballads By Francis James Child
  5. ^ Child, "Raggle-Taggle Gypsies"
  6. ^ Journal of the Gypsy Lore society Vol. II, London 1890-91
  7. ^ The English and Scottish popular ballads By Francis James Child

External links