Origins: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: GUEST,Nerd
Date: 10 Apr 02 - 02:08 PM

I think malcolm is right, and Planxty is the band our guest was thinking of. By mentioning Sweeney's Men AND the Bothy Band, he covered most of Planxty's members, anyway :-) Many other versions were based on this one, including the Irish Descendants' and the Waterboys'. The Planxty version was closely based on the Christy Moore one mentioned by Bo; it was at the recording sessions for Prosperous that Planxty was born. And I believe Malcolm has it right that Christy took it from John Reilly's repertoire, as he did several great ballads.

My favorite revival version of this song is "Gypsy Laddie" by the Tannahill Weavers, from their eponymous third LP. Great Stuff!

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 10 Apr 02 - 05:21 AM

Gypsy Rover is a modern song by Leo Maguire, an Irish broadcaster; discussed at some length in several of the threads linked to in my earlier post. I don't recall a recording of Raggle Taggle Gypsies on the first Bothy Band album (or any other, indeed); perhaps Guest was thinking of Planxty's arrangement of John Reilly's traditional set. So far as I can remember, the phrasing was based fairly closely on his.

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: IanC
Date: 10 Apr 02 - 05:08 AM

WW

Two songs you might like are The Gypsy Rover - as far as i know a US version of Raggle-Taggle Gypsies, where the guy turns out to be rich. There's also The Little Gypsy Girl which tells the tale from the other way round. The Mudcat version's a bit twee ... in most of the broadside versions, she finds him VERY nice.

Cheers
Ian

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: GUEST,Nerd
Date: 09 Apr 02 - 05:20 PM

The Shaman version of this song is on a tape called The Green Man. They're not that hard to find; just go here:

http://www.solstar.org/shaman.htm

I haven't heard this album, but the band members are old friends of mine from years back, which is why I'm butting in...

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Apr 02 - 01:22 PM

I've only heard the version by the Bothy Band, from their first album, but I love it.

It is on CD and easily available.

The singer's phrasing is amazing.

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: Maryrrf
Date: 03 Mar 02 - 09:03 PM

Well how do you know if any of them are nice or not until it's too late and you find out the hard way??? At least that's been my experience. For a while they're on their best behavior - then little by little.... I guess I just always imagined Ronald McDonald, um I mean "the young laird McDonald" as being rich AND nice, for some reason. Probably just projecting wishful thinking onto the song. I hope it worked out for young Leezie Lindsay!

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: bernil
Date: 03 Mar 02 - 06:20 PM

I've downloaded and listened a lot to the version with Tears for Bears , on MP3.com. I think it's great!

Berit

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 03 Mar 02 - 06:13 PM

Yes, but how do you work out he's nice? She realises he's rich and powerful and decides to throw in her lot with him. (We were singing the song tonight and had to explain it to someone who thought it was an extremely abrupt change of heart on the girl's part - which it is, in my opinion!)

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: Maryrrf
Date: 03 Mar 02 - 09:19 AM

I do the "Wraggle Taggle Gypsies" on my CD "Two Strings on Every Bow" which can be had at CD Baby. It's a collections of ballads with guitar accompaniement. WyoWoman - one song that comes to mind about a woman taking up with a nice rich guy is "Leezie Lindsay". As soon as she realizes he's "Laird Ronald McDonald, a chieftain o' high degeee" - yes, that's really his name but when I sing it in public I change it to "the young laird McDonald" so the audience won't imagine a clown instead of a handsome highlander - she "kilts up her gown of green satin" and runs away with him to the highlands.

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: GUEST,riverdan
Date: 02 Mar 02 - 11:08 PM

A year or so ago The Thistle & Shamrock played a version of this song where the king captured the gypsey and killed him and himself by falling out of the tower. The lord was aided by one of his men who blew the hunting horn to call help. Does anyone know who recorded this version and where I can find lyrics?

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: WyoWoman
Date: 02 Feb 02 - 01:37 PM

Are there ANY folk songs in which the woman hooks up with a NICE or even desireable rich man?

ARE there any nice, desireable rich men? If so, please call 877.555.1212... )

WW

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: Desdemona
Date: 02 Feb 02 - 12:06 PM

No, she ends by saying she doesn't care about the nice feather bed et al., she'd rather sleep in the cold open field with the gypsies; hopefully she doesn't end up meeting the fate so many "naughty" wives come to in folk songs!

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: WyoWoman
Date: 02 Feb 02 - 12:11 AM

I agree. I have the Waterson-Carthy version and love it. It's such a universal theme -- woman with some fire in her heart married to an emotionally constipated man with ice-water in his veins, throwing all her material wealth away for the sake of true passion, wrapped in a grungy package. The thing I like about the Waterson Carthy version is, I believe, that she doesn't get punished for her choice in the end. She's dirt poor, but doesn't end up drowned or humiliated or burned at the stake. (Of course, I haven't been able to find my CD in over a year, so I could be dead wrong about this and just rewrote the ending inside my own mind to please myself. Self-delusion has its advantages.)

ww

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: Desdemona
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 06:08 PM

The version on Waterson-Carthy's "Broken Ground" is one of the most artfully arranged I've ever heard; the way it builds gradually is just beautiful.

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: NoMattch
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 11:56 AM

A bad recording but a good version of the song can be found on:

www.greenhotclover.com

I've seen this band do it on occasion when I was in the UK. They're a bunch of Salford college grads from the Manchester area. Definitely worth a listen.

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: GUEST,Cory Ducey
Date: 31 Jan 02 - 08:43 AM

Being someone that grew up with Folk Music, and being from Newfoundland, Canada where Irish runs in our blood, there is a folk band that sings Folk songs called the Irish Descendants.

They are awesome!!

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From:
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 08:46 PM

Best version of this sort was Davy Graham's Seven Gypsies which he recorded on 'Folk, Blues & Beyond' around 1967 ish. I still have the original LP. Can send lyrics if you want. Gerald.

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 06:59 AM

Malcolm, that's an incredible piece of research! I understand your point about old threads, but there's another side to it. For some time now (maybe since the beginning of the Mudcat, for all I know), there have been frequent attempts to get people to check for old threads before starting new ones. In this case Alice did just that, and I appreciated the refresher. Yes, there might be some duplication, but on balance I'd prefer that to a half-dozen disparate threads on the same topic. Unless, of course, you're talking about Seagull guitars....! (Sorry, that was an inside joke at 'Spaw's expense. But I'm sure he can afford it.)

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: Garry Gillard
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 04:20 AM

Raggle Taggle Gipsies is on The Waterson Carthy Band's Broken Ground.

Garry Gillard

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: Garry Gillard
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 04:17 AM

Seven Yellow Gypsies is on the Mike Waterson LP and also on the Pence and Spicy Ale CD, and has also been re-released on the Mike Waterson CD. A different version of Seven Yellow Gypsies is on Martin Carthy & Dave Swarbrick's Prince Heathen, and also on Martin Carthy: A Collection (1999).

Garry Gillard

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: ard mhacha
Date: 12 Aug 01 - 07:29 AM

To tell you the truth Malcolm I wouldn`t break my ass to hear the song, but,Planxty and Christy Moore gave it a blood transfusion.. Slan Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: pavane
Date: 12 Aug 01 - 05:59 AM

Malcolm, I can't get that last link to open (in large format) although I can get the small version. Is it just a problem at my end?

I always thought that Gypsy/Black Jack Davey and Wraggle Taggle/Seven Yellow Gypsies were two different, though related, songs. The first is sung more from the gypsy's point of view, and he doesn't get hanged. There is obviously a lot of exchange between the songs, though.

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 11 Aug 01 - 07:50 PM

I know the Planxty record well, and have had it since it first came out; I took up the bouzouki pretty much on the strength of it.  John Reilly's set of the song was issued on The Bonny Green Tree (Topic 12T359, 1978) but I don't know if it's been reissued since.

I sometimes wonder whether it's such a good idea to resurrect old, long threads like this one; people are so eager to contribute that they tend to repeat information already given.  The Reilly text, for example, has been posted twice in this discussion (on neither occasion was he mentioned), though both times perhaps a little mis-remembered.  Here is a consolidated list of links to some relevant meterial here and elsewhere.  Whether anybody will look at them before adding duplicate material here or in new threads, I doubt; at least the resource will be available in the future.

In the DT:

THE WRAGGLE-TAGGLE GYPSIES  With tune; no source specified.

THE GYPSY LADDIE  Text and tune from a book.

GYPSY LADDIES  From a recording by Cila Fisher and Artie Treizise; no tune given or traditional source named.

GYPSIE LADDIE  From the singing of Jean Ritchie; no tune.

THE GYPSY LADDIE (4)  Properly called Gypsy Davy.  Set noted by Cecil Sharp from Mrs. Jane Gentry at Hot Springs, N.C.; text collated with other versions.

SEVEN GYPSIES ON YON HILL  With tune; from the Penguin Book of Canadian Folk Songs, ed. Edith Fowke.  No traditional source named.

GYPSY DAVEY  American text; no tune, no source named.

GYPSY ROVER  Leo Maguire's modern song based on the story, often imagined to be traditional.  Learnt at one remove from a Clancy Brothers record.  With tune.

BLACK JACK DAVEY  Learnt from the Putnam County String Band, with tune.

BLACK JACK DAVID  Mike Heron's modern song based on the story.  No tune.

BLACKJACK DAVEY (2)  American set with tune, from Almeda Riddle.

HARRISON BRADY  Noted by Samuel Bayard, from Lily Bell Dietrick at Morgantown WVa, 1944; with tune.

THE LADY AND THE GYPSY  From The Ballad Book of John Jacob Niles, with tune.  Traditional source not named.

WHEN CARNAL FIRST CAME TO ARKANSAS  Noted from Mrs. Zona Blak, Arkansas, 1942.  No tune.

BLACK JACK DAVY (IN ATLANTIC CITY)  Parody by Mark Cohen.

THE HIPPIES AND THE BEATNIKS  Parody by Miles Wooten.

In the Forum:

Raggle-Taggle Gypsy: Authored by?  Brief discussion with one substantive comment, from Bruce Olson.

RE: Raggle Taggle Gypsie 'O  Enquiry from someone who couldn't find the song; hardly surprising in view of the way he spelled it.  Contains several links.

Nic Jones- Seven Yellow Gypsies  Texts of sets recorded by Nic Jones and Cordelia's Dad.  In neither case is a traditional source named.

Gypsy Rover a real folk song   -(To which the answer, though not given in so many words, would be "no".)  Includes background from Bruce Olson, some links, and Alan Foster's parody The Travelling Salesman.

Whistling Gypsy - prejudice?  Lengthy discussion .  Includes lyric of Leo Maguire's modern re-write, The Whistling Gypsy (Gypsy Rover), and an English translation of the unrelated An Spailpín Fánach; also a translation into Gaelic of Maguire's lyric (confusingly, also titled An Spailpín Fánach) made by Proinsias Ó Maonaigh.

Scottish folk  Short discussion in which Child's #200 (The Gypsy Laddie) and #280 (The Beggar Laddie) become confused.

At the  Max Hunter Folk Song Collection:

The Gypsy Davy  As sung by Mrs. George Ripley in Milford, Missouri on November 21, 1959

Black Jack Davey  As sung by Mrs. Lula Davis, Fayettville, Arkansas on June 14, 1958

Black Jack Davey  As sung by Mr. Wise Jones, Fayettville, Arkansas on June 21, 1958

Black Jack Davy  As sung by Sara Jo Bell, Harrison, Arkansas on August 25, 1969

At Lesley Nelson's  Folk Music  site:

The Gypsy Laddie  Jean Ritchie's set, with tune.

The Wraggle, Taggle Gypsies, O!  Set with tune from Folk-Songs, Chanteys and Singing Games ( Charles H. Farnsworth and Cecil J. Sharp, 1909) No traditional source named.

Johnny Faa  Set with tune from The Saltire Scottish Song Book (Cedric Thorpe Davie and George C. McVicar, 1991; no traditional source named).

There is an entry at the  Traditional Ballad Index:

Gypsy Laddie, The [Child 200]

There are a number of broadside editions at  Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads,  including:

Gypsy Laddie  Printed between 1821 and 1838 by W. Stephenson, at the Cheap Song Emporium, No. 8, Bridge street, Gateshead.  (With The Female Smuggler).

Gypsy loddy  Printed between 1819 and 1844 by J. Pitts, Printer, Wholesale Toy and Marble Warehouse, 6, Great St. Andrew Street,Seven Dials.  (With The Oxford scholar).

The gipsy laddie  Printed between 1847 and 1852 by John Ross, Arcade, Newcastle.  (With My Gentle Mother Dear, by Samuel Lover).

The gipsy laddie, O  Printed between 1863 and 1885 by H.P. Such, Machine Printer & Publisher, 177, Union- street, Borough, S.E.

The gipsy laddy  Printed by W. Forth of Bridlington.  (With The Arab Steed and The Deep Blue Sea).

Gipsie laddie  Printed by A.C. Brander of Elgin.  (With The Female Rambling Sailor).

A much [a]dmired [s]ong called the Dark-eyed gipsy O  Printed c.1867 by W. Birmingham of Dublin.

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: Mudlark
Date: 11 Aug 01 - 03:21 PM

And...in case you want some simple chords with the words...this great song is in Rise Up Singing, page 16 in my copy...with just 3 chords that work pretty well...Am, Em and D.

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: Peg
Date: 11 Aug 01 - 02:10 PM

A band from Northampton, MA called Cordelia's Dad did a version of Seven Yellow Gypsies on on of their early albums...

"There were seven yellow gypsies all in a row
None of them lame or lazy-o
And they sang so sweet and they sang so complete
that they stole the heart of a lady-o"

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: ard mhacha
Date: 11 Aug 01 - 08:11 AM

Malcom Douglas, Christy Moores singing of The Raggle Taggle Gypsy is still the best I have heard, he fairly rattles this out. I have it on a 1973 Polydor LP. On the Disc notes it states that the song was learned from the late John Reilly a travelling man from County Roscommon. The Record was Planxty and was produced by Phil Coulter. Still can be had on CD, great stuff. Slan Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: pavane
Date: 11 Aug 01 - 04:27 AM

Bodley has Gypsy Loddy

A different song, The Gypsies, is about stealing in infant

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: masato sakurai
Date: 11 Aug 01 - 01:33 AM

P.S. Here's a list of title-name variants: The Gypsy Davy; Black Cat Davy; Black Jack David; Black Jack Davie/y; Black-Eyed Davy; Balckjack Davy; the Brown-Eyed Gipses; Clayton Boone; Dark-Eyed Gypsy; The Egyptian Davie; Gipsies-O; Gipsum Davy; Gipsy Davie; The Gipsy Laddie; Gyp's Come Tripping O'er the Plain; Gyps of David; The Gyps of Davy; Gypsey Davey; Gypsum Davey; Gypsum Davy; The Gypsy Countess; The Gypsy Daisy; The Gypsy Laddie; The Gypsy Laddies; Gypsy Laddio; Gypsy Lover; Gypsy Rover; Gypsy-O; The 'Gyptian Laddie; Harrison Brady; Harvey Walker; Johnie Faa; Johnny Faa; Johnny Faa, the Gypsy Laddie; Johnny Faw; Johnny the Seer; The Lady and the Gypsy; A Neat Young Lady; The Radical Gypsy David; Raggle Taggle Gypsies, O!; The Raggle-Taggle Gypsies; Seven Gypsies; Seven Gypsies in a Row; Whistling Gypsy; The Wraggle Taggle Cool Cats - Parody; The Wraggle Taggle Gipsies; The Wraggle Taggle Gipsies-O!; The Wraggle Taggle Gypsies; The Wraggle-Taggle Gypsies-O!; The Wraggle-Taggle Gypsies; The Wraggle-Taggle Gypsies, O/Oh!; The Yellow Castle Lady (from Brunnings' Folk Song Index). Let me add some others from Bronson: Lady Cassilles Lilt; The Davy; The Egytian Davy O; It Was Late in the Night When Johnny Came Home; How Old Are You, My Pretty Little Miss; The Lady's Disgrace; The Three Gipsies; Three Gipsies Came to the Door; There Were Seven Gypsies; The Dark-Clothed Gypsy; Draggletail Gipsies; Gipsies of Agee (Egypt) Oh!; The Ragtail Gipsies, Oh!; The Gipsies Came to Lord M--'s Gate; Gipsy Draly; David. Can anyone add more?

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: masato sakurai
Date: 11 Aug 01 - 12:02 AM

I like Steeleye Span's "Black Jack Davy" rather than Alfred Deller's "Wraggle Taggle Gypsies." Anyway, Bronson recorded 127 variants (and a few more in vol. 4)of this very familar ballad (or, group of ballads, we should say) in The Traditional Tunes of the Child Ballads. Most of them are given words separately along with the music. How varied they are!

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: Alice
Date: 10 Aug 01 - 11:13 PM

Here is my recording of Raggle Taggle Gypsy. I like the way Tom's fiddle sounds like it is playing the role of the gypsy. I also added a couple of verses of my own at the end:

So let this be a lesson true,
You gentlemen with money-o
Not all your gold or silv'ry chains
Can bind the heart of a lady-o.

For a lady loves with a tender heart
And tender kisses win her, oh,
Not all your servants or castles high,
Can keep the heart of a lady-o.

recording - Raggle Taggle Gypsy, Alice Flynn and Tom Robison

Subject: Lyr Add: BLACKJACK DAVY
From:
Date: 31 Jul 00 - 04:20 PM

Richard Dyer-Bennett did a version of this, on his CD Entitled "The Wraggle-Taggle Gypsies". This is a collection of traditional songs from various periods, with printed lyrics in the liner notes. Don't have the CD to hand, but I bought it only 3 or 4 years ago in a mainstream book/record store, so it can't be long out of print. He also did a version of BLACKJACK DAVY on a much older record which I used to have in vinyl. If memory serves that version went:

Blackjack Davy came a riding through the trees.
He sang so loud and clearly.
He made the green woods around him ring,
And he charmed the heart of a lady. (2x)

Will you go with me, my pretty little miss?
Will you go with me, my honey?
She made him an answer with a hug and a kiss:
"I'll be sixteen next Sunday." (2x)

She took off her high-heeled shoes
All made of Spanish leather.
She put on her low-heeled shoes
And they rode off together. (2x)

The landlord he came home at night
Inquiring for his lady.
The chambermaid made this reply:
"She's gone with the Blackjack Davy." (2x)

"Go bridle and saddle my little yellow mare.
The grey one's not so speedy.
I rode all day and I'll ride all night
So I'll overtake my lady." (2x)

He rode till he came to the dark blue sea.
It looked so dark and dreary.
And there he spied his own dear bride
By the side of the Blackjack Davy. (2x)

"Will you forsake your house and land?
Will you forsake your baby?
Will you forsake your own wedded lord
To go with the black-jack Davy?" (2x)

She took off her white glove
All made of Spanish leather.
She waved farewell with her lily-white hand.
She said, "Farewell forever." (2x)

-----

I also recall some quotes/references to one of the versions given earlier in this thread in D. L. Sayers' novel _Busman's Honeymoon_ when it appears that the main characters may be locked out on their wedding night.

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

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: oggie
Date: 31 Jul 00 - 04:12 PM

Planxty recorded it on 'Planxty' which was their first album and it segues into 'Give Me your Hand' (This was the first time I ever heard Irish music and I've been hooked ever since). It's the same version' but diferent production, to the one on Christy Moore's 'Prosperous'. The Planxty album was produced by Phil Coulter who in those days was part of Coulter/Quinn productions who produced endless chart teen bands (I think the Bay City Rollers were one of theirs!)

All the best

Steve

PS there was also a Fred Wedlock spoof version the only line I can remember is 'Bring to me the MGB, the Rolls is ne'er so speedy-o.

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 31 Jul 00 - 03:41 PM

Christy Moore also sang it with Planxty - I wonder if this might be the one Barry was tryingto remember? I think they recorded it - maybe on "The Well Below the Valley."

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: Trevor
Date: 31 Jul 00 - 03:10 PM

There's a cracking version of this on the 'Waterson & Carthy' album

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: Bearheart
Date: 25 Jul 00 - 11:37 PM

Found lots of references on this thread to versions of the Raggle-Taggle Gypseys, but none are the version I'm seeking--- done years ago by Delores Keane and one of the finest I've heard. If anyone out there knows of it I'm still looking for those lyrics.

Bearheart

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: GUEST,Tommy Mooney
Date: 13 Mar 00 - 03:10 PM

There is a great version on their early recordings by a group of "Celtic Rockers" called, guess? "The Raggle Taggle Gypsies" an up-tempo version using the Planxty(Christy Moore) lyrics. This Irish band play lots of festivals around europe, especially in Scandanavia, where they are very highly regarded.They line-up Derek Murtagh, from Trim, Co.Meath on keyboard; a dubliner Brendan who leads vocal and plays bodhran and rythym guitar; another dubliner Paul plays guitar/banjo and one of several fiddlers , Kevin or Hugh two virtuosi who can really bow it. Check them out

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Mar 00 - 11:17 AM

'betamax', ooooo ephemeral technology

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 06:04 PM

P.S., Dick or Susan, I hope this can be added to Mark's oeuvre in the DT. Or else just put it with the rest of his songs.

Subject: Lyr Add: HONEST AL(?) (Mark Graham?)
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 06:00 PM

Art, I am deeply honored.
Rich, here is what my depleted memory banks can reconstruct of Mark's song. After reading the words to "Clayton Boone," posted by Art above, I suspect Mark based it on that song. Tune will tell. (Sorry, Art, couldn't resist.) I wish I had an easy way of posting tunes.

HONEST AL (May not be the real title)
by Mark Graham (May not be a real person)

I was working down in Fresno, to the end of my endurance
Working for old Honest Al, who sold low-cost insurance

He'd call his wife each day at three, inquiring "What's for dinner?"
With the Cuisinart and the microwave, it always was a winner

But then one day he called his wife, and man, was it a bummer
She said she'd gone and left him for a hippie guitar strummer

"I've thrown away my high-heeled shoes, I will no longer need 'em
And bought a pair of Birkenstocks; I've never known such freedom

So goodbye to suburbia and the only life I've known
I've gone away forever - leave your message at the tone"

So Al got in his XKE, 'cause the Lincoln wouldn't handle
And went to retrieve his wifey dear and thus avoid a scandal

He drove and he drove down the interstate till he found them by the sea-O
They were chanting out their mantra, No Myo Harenge Kyo

"How could you leave your house and lawn, your bridge club and your baby
To run off in a microbus and risk a case of scabies?

I'll give to you a Betamax if you'll come home with me-O"
She shook her head and passed the pipe, and said, "Let's be a trio"

So Al put on a wide-brimmed hat, a poncho and some sandals
The three now live in Santa Cruz, quite happy making candles


Now there's a master. As far as I know, Mark and Susan are still in Seattle, but it's been a long time since I've seen them.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: raredance
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 11:43 AM

Mark,

Love your lyrics. Hope you can pull the Graham one out of your mind's recesses as it sounds equally delightful.

rich r

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: Art Thieme
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 11:03 AM

Mark,

That's a great one.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 01:58 AM

Mark Graham did a version that I know as "Honest Al," though it may have another name. "Would you forsake your house and home, your bridge club and your baby/To ride off in a microbus and risk a case of scabies?" I don't remember all the words or I'd post them. Maybe after I take my ginkgo I'll give it a try. It's not in the DT, though several of his songs are.

And I have one, too, based on the "Black Jack Davy" version of the story. It's called BLACK JACK DAVY (IN ATLANTIC CITY). I hope the traditionalists will forgive me.

Aloha
Mark

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: raredance
Date: 12 Mar 00 - 12:33 AM

A nice version of "Gypsy Davy" can be found on a 1980 LP by Roxanne and Dan Keding called "From Far and Near"

Billy Edd Wheeler added a a chorus to his version called "Black Jack Davy" on the album "Billy Edd: USA"

rich r

Subject: Lyr Add: CLAYTON BOONE (from Harry Jackson)
From: Art Thieme
Date: 11 Mar 00 - 10:54 PM

"7 Yellow Gypsies" leads off Nic Jones recent CD.

Also---HARRY JACKSON on his 2-LP set of cowboy songs on Folkways, HARRY JACKSON---THE COWBOY (his songs and brag talk), did a classic western version of this song----Here it is.

"CLAYTON BOONE".

'Twas way out in New Mexico along the Spanish line
I was workin' for old Clayton Boone --a man well past his prime.

He rides in and asks of me, "What's happened to my lady?"
I says to him, "She's quit your range and run with the handsome Davey."

"Go saddle for my proud cut dun with the coal black mane and tail
Point out to me their fresh laid tracks and after them I'll trail."

I'll bridle on my leather chaps--I'll tie my pistol o'er,
I'll step aboard that black striped dun and ride this whole world over."

I rode upon a saddle fine --a saddle made o0f silver,
My bridle rein of beaten gold--not of your common silver.

I rode until the midnight sun -- 'til I saw their campfire burnin'
And I heard the sweetest mandolin and the voice of the young Dave singing.

"Come home with me to your own sweet bed -- the sheets turned down so gayly,
Do not forget my silver and gold and your darling baby."

"Well, I'll not come home to my own sweet bed--the sheets turned down so gayly,
And I'll forget your silver and gold and all for the love of Davy. "Last night I slept with a mean old man in golden rooms so stately,
Tonight I'll sleep on the hard cold ground by the warm side of my Davey,
And I'll ride along with Dave."

_______________________________________________________ Ed Tricket also has this on a great Folk Legacy album. Bob Bovee did a fine version too.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Mar 00 - 09:18 PM

and then there's GYPSIES, TRAMPS AND THIEVES by Chair.

But seriously the ve

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: roopoo
Date: 11 Mar 00 - 01:27 AM

There is also the "Gypsy Rover" which is of the same ilk. It's not one of my favourite versions, though. It's the one where the chorus goes

Ah-de-do, ah-de-do-dah-day, ah-de-do-ah-de-day-dee. He whistled and he sang till the green woods rang, and he won the heart of a lady.

It is not one of my favourites, and I think that chorus has a lot to do with why! Somewhere I have a few sheets of "Raggle Taggle Gypsy" song lyrics, but I can't find them. (Typical). There would pribably be nothing new on. I think it even has the hippies and beatniks version too!

mouldy

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 11 Mar 00 - 12:30 AM

I'm surprised that nobody seems to have mentioned Planxty's recording (on their first album), which I suspect is where the Irish Descendants got theirs -right down to the interjected "Yerra"s!  As for "Seven Yellow Gypsies", Martin Carthy did a rather fine take of that on "Prince Heathen".

Malcolm

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

Wiilie-O:
Have you heard Dave Alvin's version? Album titled the same;" Black Jack David"
rr

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: Willie-O
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 05:39 PM

Also look for versions of "Black Jack Davey". Arlo Guthrie sings an Americanized version (with a horn section--cool!) which I think was adapted by Woody hisself. Used to hear it on the radio a lot (70's) so it may even have charted! Starts:

It was late last night when the boss came home
Askin about his lady
The only answer that he got:
"She's gone with the Black Jack Davey,
She's gone with Black Jack Davey."

Willie-O

Subject: RE: The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy
From: Kim C
Date: 10 Mar 00 - 04:50 PM

There's a good recording on A Present From the Gentlemen by John Roberts and Tony Barrand.