Origins: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: Gypsy
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 04:25 PM

Oh yeah! Minstrels of Mayhem do a great rendition of this old Child ballad. Check it out at thier website, www.minstrelsofmayhem.com. I think they have midi clips

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: Elektra
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 03:11 PM

Kiwi:

I'll be seeing Double Indemnity sometime in the next few weeks and I'm planning to pick up a couple of their CD's myself! I've seen them many times -- they are a LOT of fun.

BTW, I'm not sure, but I think you can order some through their website at www.doubleindemnity.com

*elektra*

<a href="HTTP://www.doubleindemnity.com">">Click here</a>

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: kendall
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 02:09 PM

Gordon Bok used to sing it, and his version went ..one sang high and another sang low, one sang Bonnie Bonnie Biscay oh..

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: GeorgeH
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 02:07 PM

Wasn't this track which the (BBC, UK) Radio 2 Folk Awards voted the year's best? Done by Waterson/Carthy . . .

Though for my money their version doesn't come close to Martin Simpson's recent performances of it.

And, as noted, there are MANY variants of it.

G.

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: kendall
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 02:05 PM

The Tannehill Weavers did a great job on this.. Gordon Bok used to sing it, and his version went ..one sang high and another sang low, one sang Bonnie Bonnie Biscay oh..

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 01:37 PM

Ewan MacColl did a wonderful unaccompanied version on one of the disks of _The English and Scottish Popular Ballads_ (the Child ballads), available from Smithsonian- Folkways in either CDs or tape.
Dave Oesterreich

Subject: Lyr Add: RAGGLE-TAGGLE GYPSY
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 12:54 PM

A version from the Irish Descendants:

Ah there were three old gypsies came to our hall door.
They came brave and boldly-o,
And there's one sang high and the other sang low,
And the lady sang the Raggle-Taggle Gypsy-o.

It was upstairs and downstairs the lady went,
Put on her suit of leather-o.
It was the cry all around the door,
"She's away with the Raggle-Taggle Gypsy-o."

It was late that night when the lord came in,
Inquiring for his lady-o.
The servant girl she replied to the lord,
"She's away with the Raggle-Taggle Gypsy-o."

"Oh, saddle for me, me milk white steed.
Me big horse is not speedy-o.
Tonight I'll ride to the wide-open field,
And it's there that I'll spy my Lady-o."

So he rode east and he rode west.
He rode north and south also,
But when he rode to the wide-open field
It was there that he spied his lady-o.

"Oh, why did you leave your house and your land?
Why did you leave your money-o?
Why did you leave your only wedded lord
To be off with the Raggle-Taggle Gypsy-o?"

"Yerra, what do I care for me house and me land?
What do I care for money-o??
And what do I care for my only wedded lord??
I'm away with the Raggle-Taggle Gypsy-o."

"Last night you slept in a goose-feather bed
With blankets drawn so comely-o.
Tonight you'll lie in a wide-open field
In the arms of a Raggle-Taggle Gypsy-o."

"Yerra, what do I care for a goose-feather bed?
What do I care for blankets-o?
And what do I care for me only wedded lord?
I'm away with the Raggle-Taggle Gypsy-o."

So he rode east and she rode west.
He rode high and I rode low.
"I'd rather have a kiss of the yellow Gypsy's lips
Than all of your cash and your money-o."

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 23-Oct-02.

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From:
Date: 26 Jun 97 - 02:33 PM

Unfortunately, I haven't yet gotten my hands on it, but a minstrel group called Double Indemnity did a beautiful version of this song. If anybody's gone go the PA or NJ Faire in the past couple years, you might have seen them wandering around and heard this. I'm considering writing to the group to ask them to send me a copy of Raggle-Taggle Gypsy.. the first version one hears of a song is usually the one held most dear...

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: LaMarca
Date: 25 Jun 97 - 02:31 PM

Forgot to add, Elizabeth Scarborough, the fantasy writer, wrote a fun novel based loosely on Child 200, called "Song of Sorcery". It opens with a minstrel very nearly getting himself in DEEP trouble when he sings the latest gossip ballad about the lord's wife running off with the gypsies, only to find that the lady's sister is in the audience. She is NOT pleased to hear her sister's reputation besmirched - and she's a witch... The book (and its several sequals) are funny and fun to read.

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: LaMarca
Date: 25 Jun 97 - 02:25 PM

Great parody, Alan! Have you seen "The Beatniks and the Hippies" (it's in the DT)? It's a slightly dated up-dating of Wraggle Taggle, I think from Victoria or Vancouver, British Columbia...

Subject: Lyr Add: RAGGLE-TAGGLE GYPSY / WRAGGLE-TAGGLE ...
From: Ran Coleman
Date: 22 Jun 97 - 12:20 AM

Here are two slightly different versions. One may be from the database -- I'm not sure where I got it:

THE RAGGLE-TAGGLE GYPSY

There were three gypsies came to our door.
They came brave and boldly, O.
One sang high and another sang low,
And the other sang Raggle-Taggle Gypsies, O.

It was upstairs, downstairs the lady went,
Put on her suit of leather, O,
And there was a cry from around the door,
"She's away with the raggle-taggle gypsy, O."

It was late that night when the lord came in,
Inquiring for his lady, O,
And the servant girl she said to the lord,
"She's away with the raggle-taggle gypsy, O."

"Well, saddle for me my milk-white steed.
My big horse is not speedy, O,
And I will ride and seek my bride.
She's away with the raggle-taggle gypsy, O."

Well, he rode east, and he rode west.
He rode north and south also,
Until he came to a wide-open field.
It was there that he spied his lady, O.

"Tell me, how you could leave your goose-feather bed,
Your blankets strewn so comely, O?
How could you leave your newly wedded lord,
All for a raggle-taggle gypsy, O?"

"Well, what care I for my goose-feather bed,
For my blankets strewn so comely, O?
Tonight I lie in a wide-open field
In the arms of the raggle-taggle gypsy, O."

"Tell me, how could you leave your house and your land,
How could you leave your money, O?
How could you leave your only wedded lord,
All for a raggle-taggle gypsy, O?"

"Well, what care I for my house and my land?
And what care I for my money, O?
I'd rather have a kiss from the yellow gypsy's lips.
I'm away with the raggle-taggle gypsy, O!"

THE WRAGGLE-TAGGLE GYPSY

There were three gypsies a-come to my door,
And downstairs ran this-a lady, O.
One sang high and another sang low
And the other sang Bonny Bonny Biscay, O.

Then she pulled off her silk finished gown,
And put on hose of leather, O.
The ragged, ragged rags about our door,
And she's gone with the wraggle-taggle gypsies, O.

It was late last night when my lord came home,
Inquiring for his a-lady, O.
The servants said on every hand,
"She's gone with the wraggle-taggle gypsies, O."

"O saddle to me my milk-white steed,
And go and fetch me my pony, O,
That I may ride and seek my bride,
Who's gone with the wraggle-taggle gypsies, O."

O he rode high, and he rode low.
He rode through wood and copses too,
Until he came to a wide-open field,
And there he espied his-a lady, O.

"What makes you leave your house and land?
What makes you leave your money, O?
What makes you leave your new-wedded lord,
To follow the wraggle-taggle gypsies, O?"

"What care I for my house and land?
What care I for my money, O?
What care I for my new-wedded lord?
I'm off with the wraggle-taggle gypsies, O!"

"Last night you slept on a goose-feather bed,
With the sheet turned down so bravely, O.
Tonight you'll sleep in a cold open field,
Along with the wraggle-taggle gypsies, O."

"What care I for a goose-feather bed,
With the sheet turned down so bravely, O?
For tonight I'll sleep in a cold open field,
Along with the wraggle-taggle gypsies, O."

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 23-Oct-02.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE TRAVELLING SALESMAN (Alan Foster)
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 20 Jun 97 - 07:02 PM

G'day,

Here's a version I bet you haven't heard - The Australian version! I've just changed the country and century.

THE TRAVELLING SALESMAN

by Alan Foster, 1989

A travelling salesman came knocking on the door
Of a bored young housewife on the North Shore
And he spoke so sweet and he dressed so neat
That he stole the heart of the lady, oh.

Late that night when the yuppie came home
From his office at Jones & Bagnell's, oh
Of his wife there's no sign but a note on the fridge
And a volume of Funk & Wagnell's, oh.

Well he thought that the note would tell him that
His dinner was waiting in the microwave
But instead it said "I have gone far away
So don't bother waiting up for me, Dave".

So he ran to his Porsche in the triple garage
The BM's not so speedy, oh
And his brand new Merc's just another tax lurk
To hell with the poor and needy, oh.

Oh he drove north and he drove south
Searching every motel, oh
Until he spied his own wedded bride
In the bar of the Railway Hotel, oh.

Oh how could you leave your fine waterbed
Your swimming pool and Jacuzzi, oh
And your upwardly mobile husband dear
And become another salesman's floozie, oh.

What care I for my fine waterbed
It's just sprung a leak on my side, oh
For tonight I'll lie both warm and dry
In arms of the travelling salesman, oh.

The North Shore is an affluent area of Sydney.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: Bo
Date: 20 Jun 97 - 01:19 PM

Christy Moore has a good version of this song on his album "Prosperous".

bo

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: Rosslyn Clayton
Date: 19 Jun 97 - 05:16 AM

I have a cd called The Songs of Scotland from Emporio EMPRCD590. On it is the song Raggle Taggle Gypsies sung by Kathleen MacDonald.

Happy hunting. I would be interested in the words of the song as well.

Rosslyn Clayton [e-mail]

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: Rosslyn Clayton
Date: 19 Jun 97 - 04:58 AM

I have a cd called The Songs of Scotland from Emporio EMPRCD590. On it is the song Raggle Taggle Gypsies sung by Kathleen MacDonald.

Happy hunting. I would be interested in the words of the song as well.

Rosslyn Clayton [e-mail]

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: Ricky Rackin
Date: 17 Jun 97 - 09:19 PM

Stefan Sobel [yes, the cittern-maker!] sang "Seven Yellow Gypsies"

Seven yellow gypsies stood in a row

And by them came my lady-o

She was the fairest of them all

And she's gone with the seven yellow gypsies-o

More.... if anyone's still pulling on this thread Ricky

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: Susan of DT
Date: 17 Jun 97 - 07:53 PM

If you search for "#200" you will find LOTS of versions of Gypsy Davy. It is a very popular ballad

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: Una Grey
Date: 17 Jun 97 - 03:41 PM

The Waterboys also have a good version on their Room to Roam album

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 17 Jun 97 - 03:38 PM

We have quite a few versions of the song (Child #200). Search the database for #200 or gypsy..

Subject: Chords Add: THE WRAGGLE TAGGLE GYPSIES
From: Gene Graham
Date: 17 Jun 97 - 12:06 PM

Here's one short version.

THE WRAGGLE TAGGLE GYPSIES

Once there [C#m] were three gypsies
Who came [G#7] to my door [C#m]
And [A] called up to my [G#m] lady-o
[E] Quickly [C#m] she, very, [E] very merri-[F#m] ly
Went away [G#m] with the wraggle, taggle gyps-[C#m] ies O!
Last night she slept on a goose featherbed
A home so warm had my lady-o
Now I'm told she is hungry and she's cold
Far away with the wraggle, taggle gypsies O!

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 23-Oct-02.

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: Coralena
Date: 17 Jun 97 - 11:49 AM

Now I am curious about this song. Could you please post it?

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: Ran Coleman
Date: 16 Jun 97 - 09:33 PM

Thanks to all of you for your help on this. I've been exploring to see if I can find some of the recordings you've mentioned.

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: Paul Kennedy
Date: 16 Jun 97 - 05:21 PM

The Irish Descendants have a good version of The Raggle Taggle Gypsy on their album titled Gypsies & Lovers.

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: Peter Timmerman
Date: 26 May 97 - 09:10 PM

The first chapter of Nick Tosches wild book on the roots of country music "Country" is all about the history of this song through about 2000 years. He traces it back to the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice! Yours, Peter

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From:
Date: 26 May 97 - 06:23 PM

Ran -

It will be hard to find, but if you can find it, there is a band named "Shaman" that does an unbelievable version of it.. Unfortunately, I can't recal which album it's on.. :)

Good luck on your search! :)

Petra

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: Barry Finn
Date: 25 May 97 - 07:58 PM

I think Sweeny's Men or the Bothy Band did a great recording of The Raggle Taggle Gypsy, years ago. It's in the database under Gypsy, you'll find The Gypsy Laddie (Johnny Faa- Child #200), Black Jack Davey and Gypsy Davey with some info. In 1624 a gypsy chieftain with the common Romany name, Johnny Faa was hung by Scottish officals. No connection was ever established between any gypsy and a wife of the Earl of Cassilis as recorded in song.

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: H. Burhans
Date: 25 May 97 - 04:45 PM

I had a recording of this tune on a Brother's Four album when I was in high school. Don't know the name of the album but I loved it at age 13 - I'm 42 now if that gives you an idea of the vintage! H.Burhans

Subject: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: Ran Coleman
Date: 25 May 97 - 03:49 PM

I have th words to this song that my mother used to sing, but I've never heard any reference to it from anyone else. Does anyone know of a good recording of the song? [e-mail]