The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #158710   Message #3755746
Posted By: Steve Gardham
04-Dec-15 - 03:58 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Help with Gypsy Davy
Subject: RE: Origins: Help with Gypsy Davy
Difficult to say which came first as they're both late 18thc but The Cruel Nymph does have 2 extra verses.

There are plenty of late 18thc versions of Gypsy Laddie. Roxburghe Ballads (Ebsworth) dates the version there at c1720. In the 19thc it was widely printed on broadsides in a variety of forms in Ireland, England and Scotland.

Re Irish copies, the earliest is probably Baird of Cork, 14v, FL 'There lived three Gipsies in the North' Titled 'Gipsey Laddie O'.

Birmingham of Dublin c1860 printed 'A Much admired Song called The Dark-eyed Gipsy O' 10v, FL 'There were three Gipsies in the east'.
I don't have a copy of a broadside with the first line 'When Charley came home late at night'. As it lacks the usual intros it very likely came from oral tradition. In fact I don't think I've seen any broadsides this side of the pond with a Charley in them. If there is no imprint how do they know it's an Irish broadside?