Lyr Req: Gipsy Countess

Subject: Lyr Add: GIPSY COUNTESS
From: Roberto
Date: 28 May 05 - 01:11 PM

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

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: gipsy countess
From: GUEST,Allen
Date: 28 May 05 - 01:17 PM

Isn't there a similar American song?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: gipsy countess
From: Roberto
Date: 28 May 05 - 01:23 PM

It is a variant of the Gyspy Laddie, n° 200 in F. J. Child's English and Scottish Popular Ballads. But I expect we'll know more from Malcolm Douglas, who I hope will notice this thread and give help. R

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: gipsy countess
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 28 May 05 - 08:20 PM

Assuming that you already have Songs of the West, I'm afraid I can't really add anything useful, as, though I have the book, I don't have the recording. Baring-Gould reckoned that James Parsons sang the two parts of the song together, but I confess to being rather dubious. I don't believe that that first part belongs to the song at all, but is a separate thing bolted onto it by way of prologue. B-G was not unknown for such things.

That doesn't mean that his was the hand that held the spanner (though I'd be astonished if he hadn't at least been at it with plenty of polish); the song is listed in Martin Graebe's index of the personal copy MSS. Martin is the man to answer the question, and indeed any other relating to Baring-Gould material. He was also one of the singers on the record, of course. He posts here as "Greenjack" from time to time.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: gipsy countess
From: GUEST,Seaking
Date: 29 May 05 - 03:25 PM

Pete Castle recorded a version of this song on an album I can't remember the title of and unfortunately I'm about 150 miles away from my tape collection at the moment so can't check. I remember it was sung in the two alternating parts mentioned. I wrote the lyrics out about 15 years ago and have them stashed somewhere at home so I'll post or pm them next week if it helps.


Chris

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: gipsy countess
From: Roberto
Date: 29 May 05 - 03:39 PM

Thank you, Chris. In the meantime, I've sent a PM to Greenjack, as suggested by Malcolm Douglas, but I haven't had any answer yet. R

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: gipsy countess
From: Peace
Date: 29 May 05 - 03:50 PM

"Pete adds: I don't know Polly Bird at all but have met Elaine a couple of times although she doesn't seem to remember me! My slow arrangement of The Dark Eyed Gypsy definitely flummoxes people. It was deliberate; it's not a happy song! Death & the Lady segued with the Maramures funeral song divides the world. You either love it or hate it. I think it actually comes down to whether or not you are familiar with Romanian music. If you're not it's a bit 'strange'."

From the www.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE GYPSY COUNTESS
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Feb 11 - 10:21 PM

From English Songs and Ballads by T. W. H. Crosland (London: Grant Richards, 1902), page 51:


THE GYPSY COUNTESS

There come seven gypsies on a day,
Oh, but they sang bonny, O!
And they sang so sweet, and they sang so clear,
Down cam the earl's ladie, O.

They gave to her the nutmeg,
And they gave to her the ginger;
But she gave to them a far better thing,
The seven gold rings off her fingers.

When the earl he did come home,
Enquiring for his ladie,
One of the servants made this reply,
"She's awa with the gypsie laddie."

"Come saddle for me the brown," he said,
"For the black was ne'er so speedy,
And I will travel night and day
Till I find out my ladie.

"Will you come home, my dear?" he said,
"Oh will you come home, my honey?
And by the point of my broad sword,
A hand I'll ne'er lay on you."

"Last night I lay on a good feather-bed,
And my own wedded lord beside me,
And to-night I'll lie in the ash-corner,
With the gypsies all around me.

"They took off my high-heeled shoes,
That were made of Spanish leather,
And I have put on coarse Lowland brogues,
To trip it o'er the heather."

"The Earl of Cashan is lying sick;
Not one hair I'm sorry;
I'd rather have a kiss from his fair lady's lips
Than all his gold and his money."