Lyr Req: Gypsy Fiddler / Gipsy Fiddler (Fred Rooke

Subject: Lyr Req: The Gypsy Fiddler
From: GUEST,Bruce Michael Baillie
Date: 18 Jun 09 - 02:40 AM

Does anyone have the lyrics to a song Johnny Collins recorded on his album 'Johnny's Private Army' I believe it was called 'The Gypsy Fiddler'. I used to have the album but sold it to a Norwegian collector some years ago and never wrote the words down while I had it. I've had a look on Mudcat but it doesn't seem to be in there. I doubt it was traditional and would like to know who wrote it. As far as I can remember the song is about a farmer who asks a gypsy to play at his daughters wedding, then refuses to pay him, so the gypsy takes a witty revenge.
It was a damned good album that one, pity I sold the bugger!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gypsy Fiddler
From: Peace
Date: 18 Jun 09 - 02:48 AM

It is spelled "Gipsy Fiddler" and it's on "Best of the Early Years."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gypsy Fiddler
From: Peace
Date: 18 Jun 09 - 02:50 AM

"The BOTEY" I should have written.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gypsy Fiddler
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 18 Jun 09 - 09:55 AM

It's not just farmers in folk songs who stiff the musician.

I know a harpist who tells the father of the bride "I'll start playing when I have the check." She says her policy is based on sad experience.

I'd like to know what the gypsy's revenge was so I can tell my friends.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gypsy Fiddler
From: Sugwash
Date: 19 Jun 09 - 08:46 AM

Nah then Mr Baillie

The Gipsy Fiddler was written by Fred Rooke, a Norfolk pigman. I'll transcribe the words for you after the weekend, I'm away in deepest Dorset until Sunday evening.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gypsy Fiddler
From: Sugwash
Date: 19 Jun 09 - 08:55 AM

refresh

Subject: Lyr Add: GIPSY FIDDLER (Fred Rooke)
From: Peace
Date: 19 Jun 09 - 05:24 PM

GIPSY FIDDLER
Written by Fred Rooke

"Gipsy fiddler, will you play
For me daughter's wedding day?"
"Aye, Farmer. I will play,
But what shall be me pay?"
"I will give you a good fat lamb,
As an honest man I am, if you will play
If you'll play,
With your fiddle-i-diddle-i-fiddle-i-day,
For me daughter's wedding day."

"Well," the gipsy fiddler spat,
"And what on top of that?"
"Then, gipsy fiddler,
I will give you a fleece-lined hat
On top of a one fat lamb,
As an honest man I am, if you will play,
If you'll play,
With your fiddle-i-diddle-i-fiddle-i-day,
For me daughter's wedding day."

Said the gipsy with a grin,
"And what will you throw in?"
"Some strings, gipsy fiddler,
Of the gut for your violin,
Thrown in with the hat and the lamb,
As an honest man I am, if you will play,
If you'll play,
With your fiddle-i-diddle-i-diddle-i-day,
For me daughter's wedding day."

So the gipsy fiddler played.
With the lamb he was then paid.
"And where is my fleecy hat
And the strings of the gut?" he said.
"Wound into the top of the lamb,
As an honest man I am, now you have played,
Now you've played,
With your fiddle-i-diddle-i-diddle-i-day,
For me daughter's wedding day."

"Now your daughters will be full,
As often as the mule
Or as the heifer,
The sister to the bull.
You have tricked me with that lamb.
As an honest man I am, now I have played,
I have played,
With my fiddle-i-diddle-i-diddle-i-day,
For your daughter's wedding day."

And the gipsy kept away
Till a bitter winter's day
When the lambs were seeking shelter
A-burrowing in the hay.
Here comes the fiddler man.
"As an honest man I am, who once did play,
Once did play,
With my fiddle-i-diddle-i-diddle-i-day,
For your daughter's wedding day—

"Mr Farmer, give me some hay
'Fore me nanny goat wastes away
For want of grass
On this bitter snowy day."
"Take an 'andful big as you can,
As an honest man I am, you once did play,
Once did play,
With your fiddle-i-diddle-i-diddle-i-day,
On me daughter's wedding day."

So the gipsy dug in deep
Where he saw a lamb asleep.
"Stop!" said the farmer.
"You're stealin' of me sheep!
You shall not take that lamb,
As an honest man I am, though you once did play,
Once did play,
With your fiddle-i-diddle-i-diddle-i-day,
For me daughter's wedding day."

"Mr Farmer, but it lay
Included in the hay
Just as the fleecy hat
And the strings in the gut of me pay."
"Then you shall take that lamb,
As an honest man I am, and you shall play,
You shall play,
With your fiddle-i-diddle-i-diddle-i-day,
For me next daughter's wedding day."


Sugwash: this may need corrections, but there's the basics (thanks to Rumanci).