The Gypsy Laddie
Language: English
The gypsies came to our good lord's castle gates, And O! but they sang sweetly, O! They sang so sweet and complete That down came our fair lady, O! They gave to her the nutmeg brown, They gave the finest ginger. The gypsies saw her well-fared face, And cast their glamour over her. 'Go take from me this silver cloak And bring to me a plaidie. I will forget my kith and kin, And follow the gypsy laddie. Last night I lay on a feather bed, My wedded lord beside me; Tonight I lie with stars and moon and sky; Ah! Whatever shall betide me!' (Epilogue: The Lady leaves with the gypsies, and the Lord returns..) 'Go, saddle to me the black' he said, 'The brown rides never so speedy: And I will neither eat nor drink nor sleep, Till I avenge my lady'. There were fifteen valiant gypsies, They were black, O! but they were bonny. They are all to be hanged on a tree For stealing our good lord's lady.
Authorship:
- from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , Scottish folk ballad [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Judith Weir (b. 1954), "The Gypsy Laddie", 1982 [tenor or soprano and piano], from Scotch Minstrelsy, no. 4, Novello & Co Ltd [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2016-02-10
Line count: 25
Word count: 172