Lyr Req: Gypsies (Cathal McConnell, Child #200)

Subject: Lyr Add: GYPSIES (Cathal McConnell) (Child #200)
From: Roberto
Date: 03 Apr 04 - 11:30 AM

Please, help with this transcription. THE GYPSIES (Child #200). Cathal McConnell (on Long Expectant Comes At Last, Compass Records, 2000). I can't get most of the fifht stanza, and I'm not sure that the rest is all Ok. Cathal McConnell writes he got this version from Len Graham. Thank you. R

There were three gypsies lived in the east
And they were braw and bonnie-O
They sang so sweet at the castle gate
That they charmed the heart of the lady-O

She gave to them the sparkling wine
She gave to them the brandy-O
And the gay gold ring that this lady wore
She gave to the dark-eyed gypsy-O

When the lord of the castle he came home
He equired for his lady-O
She is gone, she is gone – cried the young servant boy
She is away with the dark-eyed gypsy-O

Then go saddle to me my milk-white steed
The bay is not so speedy-O
And I'll ride for a day and a whole long night
Till I find my own-wedded lady-O

Then --- (??) he puts force unto his horse (?????)
And O he rode so speedy-O
Till he came upon his own-wedded love
And down with the dark-eyed gypsy-O

Will you forsake your houses and your lands?
Will you forsake your children three? -
I will leave them all for the one I love
And I'll follow my dark-eyed gypsy-O

Last night I lay on a fine feather bed
My own-wedded lord beside me-O
But tonight I will lie on the cold barn floor
In the arms of my dark-eyed gypsy-O

Subject: Lyr Add: THE GYPSIES (child #200)
From: Hillheader
Date: 04 Apr 04 - 05:04 AM

It may be

"Then Charles puts spurs into his horse"

Here is another vesion.

There were three gipsies, they lived in the East
Any they were braw and bonny oh
And they sang so sweet, so very, very sweet,
They charmed the heart of a lady oh.

She gave to them the sparkling wine,
She gave to them the brandy too
And the gay gold ring that the lady wore
She gave it to the dark-eyed gipsy oh.

When the lord of the castle came home
He enquired for his lady oh,
- She's gone, she's gone, said the brave servant boy,
She's away with the dark-eyed gipsy oh.

Charles then put spurs to his horse
And off he rode so speedily too
Until he fell in with his gay wedded love
Along with the dark-eyed gipsy oh.

Are you going to forsake your house and land?
Are you going to forsake your children three?
Are you going to forsake your wedded love
And go with the dark-eyed gipsy oh?


- what cares I for my house and home?
What cares I for my children three
For I lay last night in a fine feather bed
In the arms of a dark-eyed gipsy oh.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cathal mcconnell's gypsies (child #200)
From: Roberto
Date: 04 Apr 04 - 08:16 AM

Thank you, Davebhoy. "put spurs into his horse" is Ok. But the name is nor Charles. I think it is Giles. R

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: cathal mcconnell's gypsies (child #200)
From: Noreen
Date: 04 Apr 04 - 04:25 PM

I have the CD and can check for you, but won't have time for a few days.

If no-one's got back to you on this in a few days, refresh the thread or send me a PM and I'll help.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Gypsies (Cathal McConnell, Child #200)
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Nov 17 - 05:25 PM

Yes, Roberto, the name of the lord of the castle is Giles, not Charles. And yes, the lyrics are "She is gone, she is gone". The second "she is gone" is correct. Repetition lends emphasis. Also, you have a typo. The lord of the castle "inquired for his lady O". You have "equired". Your transcription by and large is excellent.

I use this song when I teach a professional ethics course in a psychoanalytic institute. (Interject huh! or WTF? here if you like.) In class, we discuss the ethics of learning to work with someone whom you may not like, whose values you may not like. And I ask the students, if the lord, the lady, or the gypsy came to you, would you be able to work with any of them? Or would you have problems working with any of them?