Hi, I was told that this might be a good place to help me research the origins of Black Jack Davey. I've been listening to David Alvin's cd of that name and got curiouser and curiouser...
It's an American descendant of a Scottish ballad, The Gypsy Laddie (and many other names); Professor Child (English and Scottish Popular Ballads) assigned it his number #200. If you want to research, you should begin by using the "Digitrad and Forum Search" facility on the main Forum page: start by searching for child #200, which will find you a lot of variants and some parodies. You will also find many of the names under which versions of the song have gone down the years, and will then be able to search for discusiions about them -there have been a great many here in the past. See also the FAQ at the top of the threads list for help on using the various search engines on this site.
Subject: RE: Help: History of Blackjack David-y-ey From:GUEST,Buzz Date: 17 Jun 01 - 01:42 PM
Thank you very much Malcolm, I had used your search but only came up with two songs and threads that only touched on the song in passing. Armed with the childs# I shall start afresh!
Subject: RE: Help: History of Blackjack David-y-ey From:InOBU Date: 17 Jun 01 - 02:20 PM
Black Jack Davy is a varrient of Raggle Taggle Gypsy, Gypsy Davie, Nine Yellow Gypsies, Whistling Gypsy, and a couple of - maybe hundreds of others. Most likely origionaly Scotish, as the Romanichal community is more found in Scotland than Ireland, where there is a decendant culture, Pavees or Travellers, but fewer Rom - Cheers, Larry
Subject: RE: Help: History of Blackjack David-y-ey From:GUEST,X Date: 17 Jun 01 - 03:30 PM
Child, #200 misssed the boat on this one. Probably made up in 1643 to embarrass the Earl of Cassillis, a staunch Covenanter. His (loving) wife has died the previous December. The tune was already known as "Lady Cassillis' Lilt" at the time (Skene MS). Child though 'Cassillis' was a corruption of 'castle', but it's the other way around.
This thread got me wondering about a "Black Jack Davy" a friend of mine sings. I think I've found the one. As I can't find it here, I'll post the words:
BLACK JACK DAVY by Mike Heron
Black Jack David is the name that I bear been alone in the forest for a long time But the time is coming when a lady I'll find I will love her Hold her singing through the green green trees
And the skin on my hands is like the leather I ride and my face is hard from the cold wind But my heart so warm with the song that I sing Charm a fair lady Singing through the green green trees
Fair Eloise rode out that day From her fine fine home in the morning In the flush of the dawn came a sound to her ear Drifting and floating Singing through the green green trees
Now fifteen summers was all that she'd seen And her skin was as soft as the velvet But she's forsaken her fine fine home And Black Jack David is Singing through the green green trees
Last night she slept on a fine feather bed Far far from Black jack David But tonight she will sleep on the cold cold ground And love him and hold him Singing through the green green trees
Saddle me up my fine gray mare Cried the lord of the house next morning For the servants tell me my daughter's gone With Black Jack David Singing through the green green trees
And he rode all day and he rode all night But he never did find his daughter But he heard from afar come adrift on the wind Two voices laughing Singing through the green green trees
Oh Black Jack David is the name that I bear Been alone in the forest for a long time But now I have found me a lady so fair I will love her and hold her Singing through the green green trees
Well, Mike Heron wrote that one himself -words and tune,if I remember correctly- though of course it was based on traditional sets. Robin's "version" is just an arrangement of Mike's song.
Subject: RE: Help: History of Blackjack David-y-ey From:Joe Offer Date: 17 Jun 01 - 10:06 PM
Here's what the Traditional Ballad Index has to say about the song. -Joe Offer-
Gypsy Laddie, The [Child 200]
Gypsy Laddie, The [Child 200]
DESCRIPTION: A lord comes home to find his lady "gone with the gypsy laddie." He saddles his fastest horse to follow her. He finds her and bids her come home; she will not return, preferring the cold ground and the gypsy's company to her lord's wealth and fine bed AUTHOR: unknown EARLIEST DATE: c. 1720 (Ebsworth); 1740 (Ramsay) KEYWORDS: elopement Gypsy marriage abandonment husband wife FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber,Bord,High),England(All)) US(Ap,MA,MW,NE,Ro,So,SE,SW) Canada(Mar,Newf,Ont) Ireland REFERENCES (95 citations): Child 200, "The Gypsy Laddie" (12 texts) Bronson 200, "The Gypsy Laddie" (128 versions+2 in addenda) Bronson-SingingTraditionOfChildsPopularBallads 200, "The Gypsy Laddie" (10 versions: #2, #4, #8, #21, #42, #71, #73, #83, #101, #120) Chambers-ScottishBallads, pp. 127-129, "Johnie Faa, the Gypsy Laddie" (1 text) Greig-FolkSongInBuchan-FolkSongOfTheNorthEast #110, pp. 1-3, "The Gipsy Laddies" (2 texts plus 1 fragment) Greig/Duncan2 278, "The Gypsy Laddie" (11 texts, 7 tunes) {A=Bronson's #45, B=#47?, C=#43, D=#44, E=#48, F=#3, G=#88} Porter/Gower-Jeannie-Robertson-EmergentSingerTransformativeVoice #14, pp. 131-133, "The Gypsy Laddie (Child 200" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #45.1} Butterworth/Dawney-PloughboysGlory, p. 14, "Gipsy Laddy O" (1 text, 1 tune) Williams-FolkSongsOfTheUpperThames, pp. 120-122, "The Draggle-tailed Gipsies" (2 texts) (also Williams-Wiltshire-WSRO Ox 195; Williams-Wiltshire-WSRO Ox 260) Reeves-TheEverlastingCircle 61, "The Gypsy Countess" (2 texts) Roud/Bishop-NewPenguinBookOfEnglishFolkSongs #81, "The Gipsy Laddie" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #42} Barry/Eckstorm/Smyth-BritishBalladsFromMaine pp. 269-277, "Gipsy Davy" (4 texts plus 2 fragments and a quoted broadside, 2 tunes) {Bronson's #109, #110} Flanders-AncientBalladsTraditionallySungInNewEngland3, pp. 193-229, "The Gypsy Laddie" (19 texts plus 6 fragments, 8 tunes) {N=Bronson's #107} Linscott-FolkSongsOfOldNewEngland, pp. 207-209, "Gypsy Daisy" (1 text, 1 tune) Belden-BalladsSongsCollectedByMissourFolkloreSociety, pp. 73-76, "he Gypsy Laddie" (3 texts plus portions of another) Randolph 27, "The Gypsy Davy" (6 texts plus 2 fragments, 4 tunes) {Randolph's A=Bronson's #100, E=#103, G=#123, H=#40} Randolph/Cohen-OzarkFolksongs-Abridged, pp. 49-51, "The Gypsy Davy" (1 text, 1 tune -- Randolph's 27G) {Bronson's #123} Abrahams/Riddle-ASingerAndHerSongs, pp. 26-28, "Black Jack Davey" (1 text, 1 tune) Burton/Manning-EastTennesseeStateCollectionVol1, pp. 97-98, "Black Jack Davy" (1 text, 1 tune) Moore/Moore-BalladsAndFolkSongsOfTheSouthwest 38, "The Blackjack Davy" (1 text, 1 tune) Owens-TexasFolkSongs-1ed, pp. 47-49, "Gypsy Davy" (2 texts, 1 tune) {Bronson's #124} Owens-TexasFolkSongs-2ed, pp. 29-31, "Gypsy Davy" (2 texts, 1 tune) Lomax/Lomax-OurSingingCountry, pp. 156-159, "Black Jack Davy" (1 text, 1 tune) Eddy-BalladsAndSongsFromOhio 21, "The Gypsy Laddie" (1 text plus a fragment, 2 tunes) {Bronson's #77, #98} Neely/Spargo-TalesAndSongsOfSouthernIllinois, pp. 140-141, "The Gypsy Laddie" (1 text, a short mixture of "The Gypsy Laddie" [Child 200] and "Seventeen Come Sunday" [Laws O17]) Brewster-BalladsAndSongsOfIndiana 19, "The Gypsy Laddie" (1 text) Stout-FolkloreFromIowa 5, p. 11, "The Gypsy Laddie" (1 fragment) Korson-PennsylvaniaSongsAndLegends, p. 52, "Harrison Brady" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #128} Grimes-StoriesFromTheAnneGrimesCollection, p. 43, "Gypsy Davie" (1 text) Davis-TraditionalBalladsOfVirginia 37, "The Gypsy Laddie" (7 texts plus a fragment, 3 tunes) {Bronson's #6, #91, #33} Davis-MoreTraditionalBalladsOfVirginia 33, pp. 253-261, "The Gypsy Laddie" (5 texts, 2 tunes) Brown/Belden/Hudson-FrankCBrownCollectionNCFolklore2 37, "The Gypsy Laddie" (6 texts plus an excerpt, many of them mixed with "Sixteen Come Sunday"; "D" also partakes of "Devilish Mary") Brown/Schinhan-FrankCBrownCollectionNCFolklore4 37, "The Gypsy Laddie" (13 excerpts, 13 tunes) Chappell-FolkSongsOfRoanokeAndTheAlbermarle 16, "Gypsy Davy" (1 fragment) Lunsford/Stringfield-30And1FolkSongsFromSouthernMountains, pp. 4-5, "Black Jack Davie" (1 text, 1 tune) Jones-MinstrelOfTheAppalachians-Bascom-Lamar-Lunsford, pp.199-200, "Black Jack Davy (The Gypsy Laddie)" (1 text, 1 tune) {same source as Bronson's #4, but the transcription is quite different} Morris-FolksongsOfFlorida, #166, "The Gypsy Laddie" (2 texts, 2 tunes) {Bronson's #13, #12} Hudson-FolksongsOfMississippi 20, pp. 117-119, "The Gypsy Laddie" (2 texts) Hudson-FolkTunesFromMississippi 26, "Black Jack David" (1 fragment, 1 tune) {Bronson's #115} Cambiaire-EastTennesseeWestVirginiaMountainBallads, pp. 59-60, "The Gypsy Laddie (Gypsy Davy)" (1 text) Shellans-FolkSongsOfTheBlueRidgeMountains, pp. 36-37, "The Radical Gypsy David" (1 text, 1 tune) Wolfe/Boswell-FolkSongsOfMiddleTennessee 15, pp. 28-30, "The Gypsies (The Gypsy Laddie)" (1 text, 1 tune) Hubbard-BalladsAndSongsFromUtah, #12, "Gypsy Davy" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #11} Scarborough-ASongCatcherInSouthernMountains, pp. 215-225, "The Gypsy Laddie" (7 texts, with local titles "The Three Gypsies," "Black Jack Davy," "Gypsia Song," Oh Come and Go Back My Pretty Fair Miss," "Gypsy Davy," "The Lady's Disgrace," "Gypsy Davy"; 5 tunes on pp. 411-414) {Bronson's #75, #126, #106, #32, #9] Wells-TheBalladTree, pp. 116-117, "The Gypsy Davy" (1 text, 1 tune) {from the same informant, although not the same session, as Bronson's #8} Creighton/Senior-TraditionalSongsOfNovaScotia, pp. 71-72, "The Gypsy Laddie" (1 fragment, 1 tune) {Bronson's #10} Creighton-FolksongsFromSouthernNewBrunswick 4, "Gypsie Laddie" (1 text, 1 tune) Greenleaf/Mansfield-BalladsAndSeaSongsOfNewfoundland 16, "The Dark-Clothed Gypsy" (2 texts, 1 tune) {Bronson's #50} Peacock, pp. 194-197, "Gypsy Laddie-O" (2 texts, 2 tunes) Karpeles-FolkSongsFromNewfoundland 17, "The Gypsy Laddie" (3 texts, 4 tunes) Fowke-TraditionalSingersAndSongsFromOntario 3, "The Gypsy Daisy" (1 text, 1 tune) Vikár/Panagapka-SongsNorthWoodsSungByOJAbbott 21, "The Gypsy Daisy" (1 text, 1 tune) Flanders/Brown-VermontFolkSongsAndBallads, pp. 220-221, "Gypsy Daisy," "Seven Gypsies in a Row" (1 text plus a fragment) Cohen-AmericanFolkSongsARegionalEncyclopedia2, pp. 546-547, "Clayton Boone" (1 text) Leach-TheBalladBook, pp. 539-543, "The Gypsy Laddie" (4 texts) Leach-HeritageBookOfBallads, pp. 120-122, "The Gypsy Laddie" (1 text) Friedman-Viking/PenguinBookOfFolkBallads, p. 105, "The Gypsy Laddie (Johnny Faa)" (2 texts) Quiller-Couch-OxfordBookOfBallads 148, "The Gypsy Countess" (1 text) S Baring Gould and H Fleetwood Sheppard, Songs and Ballads of the West, (London, 1891? ("Digitized by Google")), #50 pp. 106-109, xxviii, "The Gypsy Countess" (1 text, 2 tunes) Warner-TraditionalAmericanFolkSongsFromAnneAndFrankWarnerColl 42, "Gypsy Davy" (1 text, 1 tune) Warner-FolkSongsAndBalladsOfTheEasternSeaboard, pp. 6-7, "Blackjack Davy" (1 text) Grigson-PenguinBookOfBallads 18, "The Gypsy Laddie" (1 text) Tunney-StoneFiddle, p. 110, "The Seven Yellow Gipsies" (1 text, 1 tune) Sharp-OneHundredEnglishFolksongs 5, "The Wraggle Taggle Gipsies, O!" (1 text, 1 tune) Niles-BalladBookOfJohnJacobNiles 52, "The Gypsy Laddie" (1 text, 1 tune) Ritchie-FolkSongsOfTheSouthernAppalachians, p. 80, "The Gypsy Laddie" (1 text, 1 tune) {cf. Bronson's #38, a separate, somewhat different transcription} Sharp-EnglishFolkSongsFromSouthernAppalachians 33, "The Gypsy Laddie" (5 texts plus 5 fragments, 10 tunes) {Bronson's #35, #21, #17, #26, #20, #97, #33, #104, #36, #34} Sharp/Karpeles-EightyEnglishFolkSongs 22, "Gypsy Davy (The Gypsy Laddie" (1 text, 1 tune -- a composite version) {Bronson's #26} Karpeles-TheCrystalSpring 18, "The Gypsy Laddie" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #73} Sandburg-TheAmericanSongbag, p. 311, "Gypsy Davy" (1 fragment, 1 tune) {Bronson's #99} Henry/Huntingdon/Herrmann-SamHenrysSongsOfThePeople H124, p. 509, "The Brown-Eyed Gypsies" (1 text, 1 tune) Hammond-SongsOfBelfast, p. 57, "The Dark-Eyed Gypsy" (1 text, 1 tune) Graham-Joe-Holmes-SongsMusicTraditionsOfAnUlsterman 17, "The Dark-Eyed Gypsy" (1 text, 1 tune) Dunson/Raim/Asch-AnthologyOfAmericanFolkMusic, p. 108, "Black Jack David" (1 text, 1 tune) Hodgart-FaberBookOfBallads, p. 72, "The Gypsy Laddie" (1 text) Cox-FolkSongsSouth 21, "The Gyspy Laddie" (4 texts, 1 tune) {Bronson's #94} Cox/Hercog/Halpert/Boswell-WVirginia-A, #10A-C, pp. 40-45, "Gypsy Davy," "The Raggle Taggle Gypsies, O," "The Wraggle Taggle Gypsies, O" (3 texts, 2 tunes) {Bronson's #9, #74} Gainer-FolkSongsFromTheWestVirginiaHills, pp. 72-73, "The Gypsy Davy" (1 text, 1 tune) Ord-BothySongsAndBallads, pp. 411-412, "The Gypsie Laddie" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #60} Fowke/MacMillan-PenguinBookOfCanadianFolkSongs 76, "Seven Gypsies on Yon Hill" (1 text, 1 tune) Whiting-TraditionalBritishBallads 6, "The Gipsy Laddie" (1 text) Abrahams/Foss-AngloAmericanFolksongStyle, pp. 181-184, "Gypsy Davey"; "Gypsy Laddie O"; "Gypsy Laddie" (3 texts, 3 tunes) {Bronson's #83, #81, #27} Whitelaw-BookOfScottishBallads, pp. 268-269, "Johnie Faa" (1 text) Darling-NewAmericanSongster, pp. 75-78, "The Gypsy Laddie"; "Gyps of David"; "Gypsy Davy (Catskill's)"; "The Gypsy Laddie" (3 texts plus a fragment) Fireside-Book-of-Folk-Songs, p. 70, "The Wraggle-Taggle Gypsies, O!" (1 text, 1 tune) Gilbert-LostChords, p. 35, "The Gypsy Davy" (1 text) Silber/Silber-FolksingersWordbook, p. 194, "Gypsy Davey"; p. 211, "The Gypsy Rover"; p. 213, "The Wraggle-Taggle Gypsies" (3 texts) NorthCarolinaFolkloreJournal, Lattye Eunice Arnold, "A Sketch and Two Songs," Vol. VI, No. 1 (Jul 1958), p. 18-19, "Black Jack Davy" (1 text, 1 tune) Olson-BroadsideBalladIndex, ZN2567, "There was seven Gipsies all in a gang" DT 200, GYPDAVY GYPLADD GYPLADD2* GYPLADD3 GYPLADX GYPBLJK* GYPSYRVR* GYPHARBR* BLCKJACK* BLCKJCK2 BLKJKDAV GYPLADY* ADDITIONAL: J Woodfall Ebsworth, The Roxburghe Ballads, (Hertford, 1896 ("Digitized by Google")), Vol. VIII Part 1 [Part 23], pp. 156-157, "The Gipsy Laddy" (1 text) James Johnson, Editor, _The Scots Musical Museum_ [1853 edition], volume II, #181, p. 189, "Johny Faa, or the Gypsie laddie" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #2} John Finlay, Scottish Historical and Romantic Ballads (Edinburgh: William Creech, and Archibald Constable and Co, 1808 ("Digitized by Google")) Vol. II, pp. 35-43, "The Gypsie Laddie" (1 text) Walter de la Mare, _Come Hither_, revised edition, 1928; #83, "The Wraggle Taggle Gipsies" (1 text) Maud Karpeles, _Folk Songs of Europe_, Oak, 1956, 1964, pp. 38-29, "The Wraggle Taggle Gipsies O!" (1 text, 1 tune). Roud #1 RECORDINGS: O. J. Abbott, "The Gypsy Daisy" (on Abbott1) Freeman Bennett, "Gypsy Laddie-O" (on PeacockCDROM) [one verse only] Cliff Carlisle, "Black Jack David" (Decca 5732, 1939) Carter Family, "Black Jack David" (Conqueror 9574, 1940; Okeh 06313, 1941) Dillard Chandler, "Black Jack Daisy" (on Chandler01) Robert Cinnamond, "Raggle Taggle Gypsies-O" (on IRRCinnamond02) Debra Cowan, "Dark-Skinned Davey" (on HCargillFamily) Harry Cox, Jeannie Robertson, Paddy Doran [composite] "The Gypsy Laddie" (on FSB5 [as "The Gypsie Laddie"], FSBBAL2) {cf. Bronson's #42, #45.1} Mary Jo Davis, "Black Jack Davy" (on FMUSA) Texas Gladden, "Gypsy Davy" (AFS 5233 A1; on USTGladden01) {Bronson's #29} Mrs. T. Ghaney, "Roving Gypsy" (on MUNFLA/Leach) Woody Guthrie, "Gypsy Davy" (AFS, 1941; on LCTreas) Joe Holmes, "The Dark-Eyed Gipsy" (on IREarlyBallads) Harry Jackson, "Clayton Boone" (on HJackson1) Margaret MacArthur, "Gypsy Davy" (on MMacArthur01) New Lost City Ramblers, "Black Jack David" (on NLCR04); "Black Jack Daisy" (on NLCR14, NLCRCD2) Maire Aine Ni Dhonnchadha, "The Gypsy-O" (on TradIre01) Lawrence Older, "Gypsy Davy" (on LOlder01) Walter Pardon, "Raggle-Taggle Gypsies" (on Voice06) Jean Ritchie, "Gypsy Laddie" (on JRitchie01) {Bronson's #38} Jeannie Robertson, "The Gypsy Laddies" (on Voice17) Pete Seeger, "Gypsy Davy" (on PeteSeeger16) Warren Smith, "Black Jack David" (Sun 250, mid-1950s) BROADSIDES: Bodleian, Harding B 11(1446), "Gypsy Laddie," W. Stephenson (Gateshead), 1821-1838; also Harding B 11(2903), "Gypsy Loddy"; Harding B 19(45), "The Dark-Eyed Gipsy O"; Harding B 25(731), "Gipsy Loddy"; Firth b.25(220), "The Gipsy Laddy"; Harding B 11(1317), "The Gipsy Laddie, O"; Firth b.26(198), Harding B 15(116b), 2806 c.14(140), "The Gipsy Laddie"; Firth b.25(56), "Gypsie Laddie" Murray, Mu23-y3:030, "The Gypsy Laddie," unknown, 19C NLScotland, L.C.Fol.178.A.2(092), "The Gipsy Laddie," unknown, c. 1875 CROSS-REFERENCES: cf. "The Roving Ploughboy" (theme, lyrics, tune) ALTERNATE TITLES: Black Jack Davy The Gypsy Davy Johnny Faa Davy Faa The Wraggle Taggle Gypsy The Lady and the Gypsy Harrison Brady Gypson Davy Black-Eyed Davy The Heartless Lady Egyptian Davio It Was Late in the Night When Johnny Came Home The Gyps of Davy The Dark-Clothed Gypsy NOTES [999 words]: Hall, notes to Voice17, re "The Gypsy Laddies": "Francis James Child locates the history behind the ballad to the expulsion of the Gypsies from Scotland by Act of Parliament in 1609, and the abduction by Gypsies of Lady Cassilis (who died in 1642), her subsequent return to her home and the hanging of the Gypsies involved. [ref. Child, IV, pp. 63-5.]" Jeannie Robertson's version on Voice17 follows Child 200C,G in that the Gypsies are hanged in the last verse. - BS Although the hero of this song is often called "Johnny Faa" or even "Davy Faa," he should not be confused with the hero/villain of "Davy Faa (Remember the Barley Straw)." - RBW [Silber and Silber mis-identify all their texts] as deriving from "Child 120," which is actually "Robin Hood's Death." - PJS Also sung by David Hammond, "The Dark-Eyed Gypsy" (on David Hammond, "I Am the Wee Falorie Man: Folk Songs of Ireland," Tradition TCD1052 CD (1997) reissue of Tradition LP TLP 1028 (1959)) Sean O Boyle, notes to David Hammond, "I Am the Wee Falorie Man: Folk Songs of Ireland": "The tune has been known in the O Boyle family for four generations and has never been published." Ebsworth says of his Roxburghe version: "In White-letter, a single narrow slip, set up by Southerners, probably as a page of some Chap-book 'Garland of Songs' for circulation in the northern counties. Date circa 1720, not earlier" (p. 157). Baring-Gould writes that "The Scottish ballad of 'Johnny Faa' first appeared in Allan Ramsay's 'Tea Table Miscellany,' 1724," but I don't find it there; Ebsworth cites Cunningham's claim for Ramsay 1724 (p. 154), so that is probably the source of Baring-Gould's assertion. Both Reeves-TheEverlastingCircle 61A and Baring-Gould 50 cite James Parsons as the source of a strange version. The texts are different but agree in having a prequel to the usual story: the "lady" of the story is a gypsy girl who reluctantly marries the Earl (possibly against her will) and is recovered by the gypsies. Of the prequel Baring-Gould speculates, "I venture to suggest that the Jacobites took an earlier ballad of a gipsy girl married to an Earl, and adapted it to serve as a libel on Lady Cassilis [the supposed heroine]" (p. xxviii). Baring-Gould, but not his source, split the ballad into two parts "so as to give both melodies." Martin Graebe points out in a note to the Ballad-L list that "There is, on the Bodley site, a broadside, 'The Gipsy Countess' which is a Victorian parlour version of the seduction which was often sung as a duet (some versions are subtitled 'a celebrated duet'). This has been included by Bellowhead on a recent CD -- and great fun it is too! It is possible that James Parsons knew this song. Baring-Gould had copies of the broadside in his collection but has clearly discounted it as being irrelevant, though he has adopted its title But is this what Parsons was referring to when he told Baring-Gould of an earlier part? And is there a, so far, undiscovered version from which both Parsons' version and the Victorian song are derived?" The broadside referred to by Martin Graebe is Bodleian, Harding B 11(1312), "The Gipsy Countess, a Celebrated Duet" ("She. Oh, how can a poor gipsy maiden like me"), H. Such (London), 1863-1885; also Harding B 11(666), 2806 c.16(214), "Gipsy Countess". In this duet between "a poor gipsy maiden" and a "noble" man with "lands and proud dwellings," she asks how she can ever hope to be his bride. He answers that "All my heart, all my future, I'll lay at your feet." He asks her to marry and promises never to betray her. He tries to convince her of his sincerity. Finally, they agree to marry. Child cites Finlay in his research on the Lady Cassilis story, but relegates Finlay's version of the ballad to notes on 200A and 200E. Whitelaw-BookOfScottishBallads follows Finlay, changing a few words. - BS Sigrid Rieuwerts, in an essay entitled "The Historical Moorings of 'The Gypsy Laddie': Johnny Faa and Lady Cassilis," printed in Joseph Harris, editor, The Ballad and Oral Literature, Harvard University Press, 1991, notes that Child didn't think there was much history in this ballad, but seems to imply that Child wasn't trying very hard to find it (p. 79f.). He notes on p. 84 a poem written by one "Patrick Chamers" in 1719, in which one "Francy Fa an Egyptian" witched away "The Earle of Duglass Daughter Bessy by name... From her fathers Castle." An interesting coincidence of language, at the least. On p.p. 89-90, Rieuwerts notes that King James V gave special privileges to one Johnny Faa in 1540. He was even awarded the title of "earl" -- although it wasn't a landed earldom; he was earl of the Roma in Scotland. Still, this made the name "Faa," and "Johnny Faa," very popular, because the Roma wanted the protection they thought the name would bring. In fact the name was no help. By 1609, the Roma were being persecuted, and a number of men named Fa/Faa/Faw were hanged without proper trial on July 31, 1611 (pp. 90-91); others would follow in coming years. The Fifth Earl of Cassilis participated in some of these trials, so if this ballad is historical, the events of 1611 are the obvious place to start looking for the participants. Rieuwerts on pp. 91-92 notes that Child refers to a condemnation of a Johnny Faa in 1616 -- but adds that Child was wrong; the sentence of death was not carried out. On p. 93, Rieuwerts says that the woman involved is generally identified as Jean Hamilton (1607-1642), who in 1621 married the sixth Earl of Cassilis. But he admits that nothing in the ballad, except the title "Cassilis," links the contents of the song with Lady Jean. It is noteworthy, however, that in 1630, Earl Cassilis was instructed by the crown to execute certain Roma over whom he had jurisdiction. (p. 94). After all that analysis, however, Rieuwerts is forced to conclude that he cannot link the ballad to any actual historical events. He thinks (p. 96) that is makes historical sense. But that isn't the same thing. - RBW Last updated in version 6.1 File: C200
Subject: RE: Help: History of Blackjack David-y-ey From:InOBU Date: 17 Jun 01 - 10:24 PM
I see that Johney Faa is listed as a varient... This confirms the Scottish origion, as Faa was the boro, or headman of the Romanichal (Gypsies) in Scotland when King James drove them out, committing the first genocide against them in that part of western Europe... Cheers, Larry
The Scottish origin wasn't in doubt, and hasn't been for a century or more; the earliest known text can be seen on Bruce Olson's website, unless I'm mistaken.
Subject: RE: Help: History of Blackjack David-y-ey From:Sorcha Date: 17 Jun 01 - 11:11 PM
Guest,X sounds suspiciously like Bruce O........(sorry if I seem a little paranoid) I just don't think he can stay away from here and why else would someone that knowledable post as a guest? (Sorry if I'm wrong)
Subject: RE: Help: History of Blackjack David-y-ey From:Mark Cohen Date: 18 Jun 01 - 12:21 AM
Jon, Mike Heron is a friend of yours? I first heard about the Incredible String Band in 1970 as a freshman in college, when I found "The 5000 Spirits, or the Layers of the Onion" in the Princeton Public Library. Brings back many fond memories (and some fuzzy ones...)!
No Mark. I just searched the internet to find the words my friend sings and it turned out to be that one. I don't think that I have ever heard the Incredible String Band.
Subject: RE: Help: History of Blackjack David-y-ey From:LR Mole Date: 18 Jun 01 - 12:33 PM
Nick Tosches' "Country: the Biggest Music in America" has an interesting early chapter on the song. I think Warren Smith backed "Ubangi Stomp" with it, and took author's credit. I could have that wrong, though.
Does anyone have the variant called "Black Jack Davy?"
Chris Caswell and Danny Carnahan have a good version but I can't quite get the words. Their refrain is something like:
And he walked o'er hills and walked o'er dales/and he climbed the wild high mountains/something something something here/Black Jack Davy he is hunting..
Subject: RE: Help: History of Blackjack David-y-ey From:Joe Offer Date: 19 Jun 01 - 02:33 PM
Maybe I shouldn't have been such a smart-ass about putting the triple-winged birdie to show that the lyrics Jon posted are already in the Digital Tradition. There are some significant differences, and some of the words in the DT just don't seem to fit. Is there somebody who'd like to come up with an authoritative version of Mike Heron's lyrics? -Joe Offer-
Mike Heron recorded two sets of his reworking of the song, several years apart, which had some significant differences in the lyric; one as Black Jack Davy (on I Looked Up; I forget the date as someone pinched my copy) and as Black Jack David on Earthspan (1972). I think the set Jon posted is the former; the latter omitted the "15 summers" verse at least.
Johnny Faa was the gypsy chieftain who inspired all of the songs, or so I've been told. This was a time when gypsies were outlawed in Scotland (and Ireland)There is a beautiful fiddle tune named Johnny Faa, a man (don't have his name handy) set words to it telling a story about Bonnie Prince Charlie. The song's title is "Wae's me (woe is me) for Prince Charlie" It's a beautiful lament and I'm told that this song was the only song the man ever wrote. My two cent contribution.
Subject: Lyr Add: BLACK JACK DAVID (Mike Heron) From:BUTTERFLY Date: 05 Mar 03 - 07:15 AM
As an Incredible String Band fan, I can say that Mike Heron wrote 2 versions, one called "Black Jack DAVY" on the 1970 "I looked up" and "BLACK JACK DAVID" on the 1972 album "Earthspan". The former is I think the best, the latter having electric rather than acoustic fiddle, which I prefer; it also has a nice "false ending". Until about 2 years ago this was the only version I had heard, then I heard Woody Guthrie's version, on which Bob Dylan seems to have based his, though with many changes.
I also think "Black Jack Davy" sounds better than "Black Jack David". I imagine "Black" probably referred to hair colour, or complexion, as in "(Black) Jock/Johnnie Armstrong", the notorious Border "Reiver" of Gilnockie, who was hanged in 1530.
I am not aware of the other ISB man (not forgetting Clive Palmer), Robin Williamson, singing Black Jack Davy, though he does sing "Wae's Me for Prince Charlie" and also mentions Johnny Armstrong in a song called "Hughie the Graham", about a Border reiver of that name.
Anyway, the lyrics to the 1972 version as printed on the album sleeve are nearly the same as those posted by Jon Freeman on 17th June 2001, with a few very minor variations, and the omission of the following verse in the 1970 version:
Now fifteen summers was all that she'd seen And her skin was as soft as the velvet But she's forsaken her fine fine home And Black Jack Davy Singing through the green green trees
1972 version from "Earthspan"
BLACK JACK DAVID (Mike Heron)
Black Jack David is the name that I bear been alone in the forest for a long time But the time is coming when a lady I'll find I will love her and hold her singing through the green green trees
The skin on my hands is like the leather I ride and my face is hard from the cold wind But my heart so warm with the song that I sing Will charm a fair lady Singing through the green green trees
Fair Eloise rode out that day From her fine fine home in the morning In the flush of the dawn came a sound to her ear Drifting and floating Singing through the green green trees
Last night she slept on a fine feather bed Far far from Black Jack David But tonight she will sleep on the cold cold ground And love him and hold him Singing through the green green trees
Oh saddle me up my fine gray mare Cried the lord of the house next morning For the servants tell me my daughter's gone With Black Jack David Singing through the green green trees
And he rode all day and he rode all night But he never did find his daughter But he heard from afar come adrift on the wind Two voices laughing Singing through the green green trees
Oh Black Jack David is the name that I bear Been alone in the forest for a long time But now I have found me a lady so fair I will love her and hold her Singing through the green green trees
The theme of a young aristocratic lady running off with a gipsy seems to be a very old one, and while one can't deny the liking of some high born ladies "for a bit of rough" I wonder if it was really based on fact; would they really have swapped a life of luxury and ease to sleep on the "cold cold ground" (and live in poverty?). There is another variant on this theme "The Gipsy Rover" where the female runaway proudly boasts to her father, when he has caught up with her, that "He is no gipsy, father, but lord of these lands all over". At least in this case she knew which side her bread was buttered on.
As in some versions of the ballad the girl is only 15, legally this is basically a case of child abduction and if something similar happened today there would be an outcry about paedophilia, etc. In those times presumably people had a different attitude. I have just been reading that Henry VIII seduced Anne Boleyn's 14 year old sister Mary and then turned his attention to Anne (who was given tips on how to please Henry by Mary). The rest, as they say, is history.
sj
