O the gipsies they laid here last night,
It was wet and dreary o
And the song they sang pleased the fair lady's heart,
And she came downstairs at midnight o.

When the old lord awoke out of sleep,
He enquired for his honey o,
And the chamber maid answered and said
She is gone with the black-hearted gipsies o.

He said, 'Come bridle to my my milk-white steed,
And do it brisk and bonny o,
That I may ride the wide world round,
Until I find my honey-o.'

He rode all that long night
And part of the very next day too,
And when he found her on the road,
She was cold, wet and weary o.

'Will you get up before me, love,
Or will you get up behind me, o?
Or will you take your [?] packet on our back,
For to follow those black hearted gipsies o?'

'No I shan't get up [before you love.
Nor will I get up behind you, o.
Nor will I take my packet on our back,
For to follow those black hearted gipsies o.']

'Will you forskae your houses and land,
And will you forsake your money too,
And will you forsake your new wedded lord
For to follow those black hearted gipsies o?'

'Yes I will [forsake my house and land,
Yes I will forsake my money too
Yes I will forsake my new wedded lord
for to follow the black hearted] gipsy laddy 0.'

abc | midi | pdf

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Source: M Dawney, The Ploughboy's Glory, EFDSS, 1977

Notes:
From the George Butterworth collection; sung by 'Skinny' Crow.

Probably collected at Filby, Norfolk in April 1910.

Roud: 1 (Search Roud index at VWML) Take Six
Laws:
Child:

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Related Songs:  Gypsy Davey (thematic) The Wraggle Taggle Gipsies-O! (thematic)