GIPSY COUNTESS as sung in Dead Maid's Land, Traditional songs from Devon and Cornwall from the collection of Sabine Baring-Gould (Wild Goose Studios). Please, help complete and correct this text. I see they sing one after the other the two parts of The Gipsy Countess that is in Songs of the West, by S. Baring-Gould, but there are some differences from the text in the bok and this recording. Thanks. R

There came an earl a-riding by
A gypsy maid espyed he
Oh, nut brown maid - to her he said
I pray thee, come away with me

I'll take you up, I'll carry you home
I'll ... a safeguard over you
Your shoes shall be of the Spanish leather
And silken stockings all of blue

My brothers three no more I'll see
If that I went along with you
I'd rather be torn by thistle and thorn
With my bare feet all in the dew

I'll lock you up in a castle tall
I'll bar you up in a room so high
... gypsy maid from the green wood glade
That ne'er a gypsy shall come find

Thou shalt no more be set in stocks
Nor trudge about from town to town
But thou shalt ride in pomp and pride
In velvet red and broidered gown

I'll pawn my hat, I'll pawn my gown
I'll pawn my silken stockings too
I'll pawn my petticoat next to my shift
To follow along with the gypsies-O

I will thee wed, sweet maid - he said
I will thee wed with a golden ring
And thou shall dance and merry merry be
And I'll make thee a gay wedding

I will not wed, kind sir - she said
I will not wed with a golden ring
For fickle as wind I fear I'll find
The man that would make my wedding

***

Three gypsies stood at the castle gate
They sang so high, they sang so low
The lady sat in her chamber late
Her heart it melted away as snow

They sang so sweet, they sang so shrill
That fast her tears began to flow
And she laid down her golden gown
Her golden rings and all her show

She pulled off her silken shoes
That were of Spanish leather-O
Off, off for to go in the rain and snow
Off, off in the stormy weather-O

At past midnight her lord came home
And where his lady was would know
The servants replied on every side:
She's gone away with the gypsies-O

Come saddle my horse, come saddle my mare
And hang my sword to my saddle bow
That I may ride for to seek my bride
That's gone away with the gypsies-O

They saddled his horse, they saddled his mare
And hung his sword to his saddle bow
That he might ride for to seek his bride
That's gone away with the gypsies-O

Then he rode high and he rode low
He rode through hills and valleys-O
He rode 'til he spied his own fair bride
Following along with the gypsies-O

What makes you leave your house and lands?
What makes you leave your money-O?
What takes you abroad from your wedded lord
To follow along with the gypsies-O?

Oh, I want none of your house and lands
And I want none of your money-O
And neither care I for my wedded lord
I'll follow along with the gypsies-O

Last night you slept in a feather bed
Rolled in the arms of your husband-O
And now you must sleep on the cold, cold ground
And walk along in the rain and snow

I care not to sleep in a feather bed
Rolled in the arms of a husband-O
I'd far rather sleep on the cold, cold ground
And walk along in the rain and snow

Nay, that shall not be, I swear - said he
He drew his sword from his saddle bow
And thrice he smote on her lily white throat
And then her red blood down did flow

Three gypsies stood at the castle gate
They sang so high, they sang so low
The lady sat in her chamber late
Her heart it melted away as snow