University of Virginia Library

The Gipsy Laddie

THE GYPSY LADDIE—H

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Shropshire Lolk-Lore, edited by Charlotte Sophia Burne, p. 550, as sung May 23, 1885, by gypsy children.

1

There came a gang o gipsies by,
And they was singing so merry, O
Till they gained the heart o my lady gay,
[OMITTED]

2

As soon as the lord he did come in,
Enquired for his lady, O
And some o the sarvants did-a reply,
‘Her's away wi the gipsy laddie.’ O

3

‘O saddle me the bay, and saddle me the grey,
Till I go and sarch for my lady;’
And some o the sarvants did-a reply,
‘Her's away wi the gipsy laddie.’

4

And he rode on, and he rode off,
Till he came to the gipsies' tentie,
And there he saw his lady gay,
By the side o the gipsy laddie.

5

‘Didn't I leave you houses and land?
And didn't I leave you money?
Didn't I leave you three pretty babes
As ever was in yonder green island?’

6

‘What care I for houses and land?
And what care I for money?
What do I care for three pretty babes?’
[OMITTED]

7

‘The tother night you was on a feather bed,
Now you're on a straw one,’
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]