Black Jack Davey went a-ridin o’er the plains,

voiceCollected by: Merlyn B. Page James R. Hayes Sung by: Oleavia Houser Fayetteville, Arkansas September 28, 1958 Reel 277 Item 1 BLACK JACK DAVEY (Child No. 200) Black Jack Davey went a-ridin o’er the plains, Singin' his song so gayly-o, He sang so loud he made the echos ring, And charmed the heart of a lady-o. He says, "Go with me my pretty little miss,” And will you be my baby-o? I swear by the sword that hangs by my side, You shall never want for money-o. Oh will you forsake your house and home? And will you forsake your baby-o? Will you forsake the one loves you, To go with Black Jack Davey-o? Yes I’ll forsake my house and home, Yes I’ll forsake my baby-o, Yes I'll forsake the one loves me, To go with Black Jack Davey-o. Then pull off that little black glove you’re wear, Make out of that Spanish leather-o, Place your lily white hand in mine, And here we'll part forever-o. She pulled off that little black glove she wore, Made out of that Spanish leather-o, Placed her little lily white hand in his, And there they parted forever-o. Well they rode all nite and they rode that day, Til the sun set in the evening-o, And then they came to a broad salt lake, That looked so dark and dreary-o.Continue BLACK JACK DAVEY Reel 277, Item 1 (Cont'd) Last night I slept on a new feather bed, Beside my darlin' baby-o, Tonite I'll sleep on my ole hay-pile, With the gypsies piled all around me-o. Oh, once I had a home so fine, And jewels very costly-o, Now I sit me down in rags, Beside the gypsy drailie-o.Funding for digitization provided by the Arkansas Humanities Council and the Happy Hollow Foundation