Lyr Req: The Gypsy Laddie (Tannahill Weavers)

Subject: Lyr Req: Follow the Gypsy Laddie-O
From: GUEST,celticblues5
Date: 12 Oct 06 - 11:58 PM

Can someone help me with remembering who did a version of Gypsy Laddie from (probably/possibly) the 80s - with male singers - and the chorus was a little different from the usual: "Laddie-O, Laddie-O, follow the gypsy Laddie-O."   Although, I don't know, it could have been spelled gipsy or any of the other variations, of course. It was a rather high-speed version.

If anyone knows the version I'm talking about, I'd appreciate knowing who did it, so that I can try to track down a copy. If you know the lyrics, I'd appreciate those, too - I *think* that the verses were pretty much the usual, but, due to the speed of the delivery & the vagueness of passing time, can't remember for sure. I looked through most of the versions on Mudcat, but there are so many, I may have missed this particular one. Thanks so much for your time.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Follow the Gypsy Laddie-O
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 13 Oct 06 - 05:30 AM

"Tannahill Weavers" first album, "Are Ye Sleeping, Maggie". The one with Dougie Mclean on fiddle. If no-one else does, I'll post the words for you next week. Can't manage before then , I'm afraid.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE GYPSY LADDIE (Tannahill Weavers)
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 13 Oct 06 - 05:58 AM

From the Tannies' website:

There were three gypsies in a row,
and oh but they were bonnie o
They sang sae sweet and sae complete
they've stolen the heart of a lady o
Laddie o, laddie o, follow the gypsy laddie o.

It's ye'll tak' aff that silken goon,
and put on this tartan plaidie o
And ye'll come awa' this lee-lang-nicht,
and follow the gypsy laddie o.

Lord Castles he's cam hame at e'en,
enquiring for his lady-o
The hounds is run, the hawks is flown,
and the gypsy's awa' wi' yer lady o.

Come saddle tae me the black, the black,
mak haste and soon be ready o
For meat and drink I winna taste,
till I get back to my lady o.

And he's rode east, and he's rode west,
till he's cam tae yonder boggie o
And there he spied the well-faured maid,
in the arms of the gypsy laddie o.

Will ye come wi' me, my honey and my heart,
will ye come wi' me my lady o
And I swear by the sword, that hangs by my side
the black band ne'er shall steal ye o.

I winnae come wi' you my honey and my heart,
I winnae come wi' you my dearie o
Till I hae drank the breest I brewed
and that's in the water o' the Eerie o.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Follow the Gypsy Laddie-O
From: Susan of DT
Date: 13 Oct 06 - 06:15 AM

There are 23 versions of this (Child #200) in the Digital Tradition.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Follow the Gypsy Laddie-O
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Oct 06 - 07:24 PM

Gee, Susan, I guess it's a good thing I didn't find them all when I was doing the crosslinks up above.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Follow the Gypsy Laddie-O
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 13 Oct 06 - 09:33 PM

The big question at this point would be "where did the Tannahill Weavers get the version of which they recorded an arrangement?"

Did they credit any source on their record? No acknowledgement seems to appear on their website.

Their text appears to be a shortened form of the one that is in the DT as THE GYPSY LADDIE. There it is credited to "Songs and Dances of Scotland, Thomson", but it appears to be the text that Ewan MacColl collated mostly from traditional examples collected by Gavin Greig, and recorded set to a tune he said he got from his father; though I don't think that MacColl used a refrain. It isn't immediately obvious where the tune with the DT file came from; it is similar to MacColl's and to Jeannie Robertson's, but the notation is not the same.

A little looking around suggests that this and a number of other DT files are copied from a book by one Liz Thomson; regrettably, traditional sources are not acknowledged in the DT transcriptions. It appears that Ms Thomson did not bother to credit her sources (though I would be pleased to be reassured on that point) -if that is the case, then nothing she printed can be assumed to be genuine.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Follow the Gypsy Laddie-O
From: Effsee
Date: 13 Oct 06 - 09:42 PM

Perhaps it was just the Tannahill Weaver's version.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Follow the Gypsy Laddie-O
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 13 Oct 06 - 10:28 PM

It was certainly their arrangement; but where did they get the basis for it from? "Traditional" doesn't tell us anything useful, and is far too often the result either of laziness or a wish to avoid having to pay royalties.

Not that I'm suggesting that either of those possibilities is the case here; I just wish the Tannahills had been a little more frank, so that we might know whether we are dealing with a genuine traditional variant or a modern collation.

People who ask (and answer) questions here often don't realise that there is a significant difference between those things. Although it may not matter to them, it's important that any information we provide here is as accurate as we can make it; and, where there may be doubt about something, that includes saying so.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Follow the Gypsy Laddie-O
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Oct 06 - 11:07 PM

Yes, Kenny, that's it! I recognize the particular lyric pattern. THANKS so much!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Follow the Gypsy Laddie-O
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 15 Oct 06 - 02:32 PM

You're welcome, guest. Glad to have been of assistance.
Malcolm, I'm afraid I don't know where that particular version came from. I certainly haven't ever heard any one else sing it. If you really wanted to find out, you could always e-mail Roy Gullane through their website and ask him. I'm sure he'd be pleased to help.
Best wishes.