We know The Gypsy Laddie as The Raggle Taggle Gypsies, since that was the title it had when I learned it at school. Yep, it's an oldie - older even than me - it dates back to about 1720.
It is our folk song for AO2 Term 3. We've actually had a lot of trouble finding a version that we like - not because there's a dearth of them; on the contrary, there are so many of them that to find one similar to the one I know - the only right version, of course - has taken a while.
This is the version we've settled on:
There were three old gypsies; came to our hall door
They came brave and bold-ee-oh
And there's one sang high and the other sang low
And the lady sang the Raggle Taggle gypsy-oh.
It was upstairs and downstairs the Lady went
Put on her suit of leather-oh
It was the cry all around the door
"She's away with the Raggle Taggle gypsy-oh."
It was late that night when the Lord came in
Inquiring for his Lady-oh
The servant girl, she replied to the Lord
"She's away with the Raggle Taggle gypsy-oh."
"Oh then saddle for me
Me' milk-white steed
Me' big horse is not speedy-oh
Tonight I'll ride to the wide open field and it's there that I'll spy my Lady-oh."
So he rode east.
He rode west
He rode north and south also
It was when he rode to the wide open field
It was there that he spied his Lady-oh
"Oh why did you leave your house and your land
Why did you leave your money-oh
And why did you leave your only wedded Lord
To be off with the Raggle Taggle gypsy-oh"
"What do I care for me house and me land
What do I care for money-oh
And what do I care for me only wedded Lord
I'm away with the Raggle Taggle gyspy-oh"
"Last night you slept in a goose-feather bed
The blankets drawn so comely-oh
Tonight you'll lie in the wide open field
In the arms of the Raggle Taggle gypsy-oh"
"You're a - What do I care for a goose-feather bed
What do I care for blankets-oh
And you're a - What do I care for me only wedded Lord
I'm away with the Raggle Taggle gypsy-oh"
So he rode east,
She rode west
He rode high and I rode low
"Well I'd rather have a kiss of a yellow gypsy's lips
Than all of your cash and your money-oh"
There were three old gypsies came to our hall door
They came brave and bold-ee-oh
And there's one sang high and the other sang low
And the lady sang the Raggle Taggle gypsy-oh
The words are good but there's no video. I know, I know, it's boring. A certain Miss 7 tells me over and over again. Anybody have a better version? One with singable lyrics acceptable for a kid and her easily offended Mummy?
I'd love your help here, girls.
Here's a Japanese anime version, believe it or not...
We might have used this video game software version if only her clothing weren't so...um...yeah.
Ok, the melody is different, but this reminds me of the "Gypsy Rover" song that I believe is a British folk song.
ReplyDeleteMy Rover Crew (Scouting for young men and women aged 18-26 in Canada) used to sing this (and almost any other song that mentioned Rovers... lol
So, although it doesn't help your quest - notice the very similar theme. (there are a few versions of this one too...)
1. The Whistling Gypsy came over the hill,
Down thru the valley so shady;
He whistled and he sang
til the greenwood rang,
And he won the heart of a lady.
Chorus:
A dee do a dee do die day,
A dee do a dee day-dee
He whistled and he sang
Til the greenwoods rang,
And he won the heart of a lady.
2. She left her father's castle gate,
she left her own true love-r;
She left her servants
And her estate
to follow the gypsy rover.
3. She left behind her velvet gown,
And shoes of Spanish leather;
They whistled and they sang
Till the greenwood rang,
As they rode off together.
4. Last night she slept on a feather bed
With silken sheets for cover;
Tonight she sleeps
On the cold, cold ground
Beside her gypsy lover.
5. Her father saddled up his fastest steed
And roamed the valleys all over
He Sought his daughter
At great speed
And the whistling gypsy rover.
6. He came at last to a mansion fine,
Down by the river Claydee
And there was music
And there was wine,
For the gypsy and his lady.
7. "He is no gypsy, my father" she said
"But lord of these lands all over,
And I shall stay
'til my dying day
With my whistling gypsy rover."
Yes, The Gypsy Rover is the one I am familiar with, too.
ReplyDeleteYou gotta love that toe tapping Irish beat though. Pass on the Japanese version and the "saucy" one!
Hi Jeanne,
ReplyDeleteJust to let you know that thanks to you I have spent the whole afternoon trying to stop whistling/ singins The Gypsy Rover!!!
Funny - I've had Ps 119:18 to St Stephen in my brain. Over and over and over. More profound that The Gypsy Rover, but no less irritating by the 200th repetition!!! Wish I knew the whole Psalm...
ReplyDelete