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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE GYPSY LADDIE (7) by ANONYMOUS

First Line: IT WAS LATE IN THE NIGHT WHEN THE SQUIRE CAME HOME
Last Line: BUT NOW I'VE COME TO AN OLD STRAW PAD / WITH THE GIPSIES DANCING ROUND ME
Subject(s): GYPSIES; GIPSIES;

It was late in the night when the Squire came home
Enquiring for his lady.
His servant made a sure reply:
She's gone with the gipsum Davy.
Rattle tum a gipsum gipsum
Rattle tum a gipsum Davy.
O go catch up my milk-white steed,
The black one's not so speedy,
I'll ride all night till broad daylight,
Or overtake my lady.
He rode and he rode till he came to the town,
He rode till he came to Barley.
The tears came rolling down his cheeks,
And then he spied his lady.
It's come go back, my dearest dear,
Come go back, my honey;
It's come go back, my dearest dear,
And you never shall lack for money.
I won't go back, my dearest dear,
I won't go back, my honey:
For I wouldn't give a kiss from gipsum's lips
For you and all your money.
It's go pull off those snow-white gloves,
A-made of Spanish leather,
And give to me your lily-white hand,
And bid farewell for ever.
It's she pulled off those snow-white gloves,
A-made of Spanish leather,
And gave to him her lily-white hand,
And bade farewell for ever.
She soon ran through her gay clothing,
Her velvet shoes and stockings;
Her gold ring off her finger 's gone,
And the gold plate off her bosom.
O once I had a house and land,
Feather-bed and money;
But now I've come to an old straw pad
With the gipsies dancing round me.





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