The Gypsy Laddie (Child 200D)

There came Gyptians to Corse Field yeats,
Black, tho they warna bonny;
They danced so neat and they danced so fine,
Till down came the bonny lady.

She came trippin down the stair,
And her nine maidens afore her;
But up and starts him Johny Fa,
And he cast the glamour oer her.

‘Ye’ll take frae me this gay mantle,
And ye’ll gie to me a plaidie;
For I shall follow Johny Fa,
Lat weel or woe betide me.’

They’ve taen frae her her fine mantle,
And they’ve gaen to her a plaidie,
And she’s awa wi Johny Fa,
Whatever may betide her.

When they came to a wan water,
I wite it wasna bonny,

‘Yestreen I wade this wan water,
And my good lord was wi me;
The night I man cast aff my shoes and wide,
And the black bands widen wi me.

‘Yestreen I lay in a well made bed,
And my good lord lay wi me;
The night I maun ly in a tenant’s barn,
And the black bauds lyin wi me.’

‘Come to yer bed,’ says Johnie Fa,
‘Come to yer bed, my dearie,
And I shall swer, by the coat that I wear,
That my hand it shall never go near thee.

‘I will never come to yer bed,
I will never be yer dearie;
For I think I hear his horse’s foot
That was once called my dearie.’

‘Come to yer bed,’ says Johny Fa,
‘Come to yer bed, my dearie,
And I shall swear, by the coat that I wear,
That my hand it shall never go oer thee.’

‘I will niver come to yer bed,
I will niver be yer dearie;
For I think I hear his bridle ring
That was once called my dearie.’

When that good lord came hame at night,
He called for his lady;
The one maid said, and the other replied,
‘She’s aff wi the Gyptian laddy.’

‘Ye’ll saddle to me the good black steed,
Tho the brown it was never so bonny;
Before that ever I eat or drink,
I shall have back my lady.’

‘Yestreen we were fifteen good armed men;
Tho black, we werena bonny;
The night we a’ ly slain for one,
It’s the Laird o Corse Field’s lady.’