Subject: History of Blackjack David-y-ey From: GUEST,Buzzy Frets Date: 17 Jun 01 - 12:46 PM Hi, I was told that this might be a good place to help me research the origins of Black Jack Davey. I've been listening to David Alvin's cd of that name and got curiouser and curiouser. Black Jack Davey he is hunting What care I for your goose feather bed With the sheets turned down so bravely Well I may sleep on the cold hard ground Along with the Black Jack Davey Then I'll kick off my high heeled shoes Made of the Spanish leather And I'll put on my lowland brogues And skip it o'er the heather He rode up hills and he rode down dales. Black Jack Davy he is hunting What care I for your goose feather bed With the sheets turned down so bravely Well I may sleep on the cold hard ground Along with the Black Jack Davy Then I'll kick.

1. Black Jack Davey He Is Hunting Season
2. Black Jack Davey He Is Hunting In Florida
3. Black Jack Davey Chords
4. J Davey Jack Davey
5. Black Jack Davey He Is Hunting Meme
6. Black Jack Davey Lyrics

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from the album Live At A Distance 路Copyright: Writer(s): Martin Carthy Lyrics Terms of Use

Late last night when the squire came home
Inquiring for his lady
Some denied and some replied
She's gone with the Black Jack Davey

Go saddle to me the bonny brown steed
For the gray was never so speedy
I'll ride all day and I'll ride all night
Till I catch that Black Jack Davey

Oh, he rode up hills and he rode down dales
Over many a wild high mountain
And they did say that saw him go
Black Jack Davey, he is hunting

He rode east and he rode west
All in the morning early
Their he spied his lady fair
Cold and wet and weary

Oh, why did you leave your house and land
Why did you leave your baby
Why did you leave your own wedded lord
To go with the Black Jack Davey

Oh, he rode up hills and he rode down dales
Over many a wild high mountain
And they did say that saw him go
Black Jack Davey, he is hunting

What cared I for your goose feather bed
The sheets turned down so bravely
Well, I may sleep on the cold hard ground
Along with the Black Jack Davey

Then I'll kick off my high healed shoes
Made of Spanish leather
And I'll put on my lowland brogues
And skip it o'er the heather

Oh, he rode up hills and he rode down dales
Over many a wild high mountain
And they did say that saw him go
Black Jack Davey, he is hunting

Oh, he rode up hills and he rode down dales
Over many a wild high mountain
And they did say that saw him go
Black Jack Davey, he is hunting

In many ways, the creature known in traditional folk songs as 'Black Jack Davy,' among other variants, is one of the original bad boy rebels. His story has been passed down in poem and song since possibly the early 1700s, or, if you listen to Nick Tosches, since the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice. Gypsy Davy wins the heart of an upper class maiden merely by letting his song ring through the woods. With one listen she is spellbound, leaving her fine feather bed/husband/baby (different objects in different versions, often all three), all for the love of Black Jack Davy, a rogue gypsy. 'Black Jack Davy' can, and has, been read approximately a zillion different ways over the aeons, and that is part of the enjoyment of the piece. I see it as a liberation in a way for the young maiden, who chooses to run off with a cunning and poor man she is (rather joltingly) in love with instead of remaining 'kept' by her wealthy husband. Other interpretations of the story are all up to you.
Among the various permutations of 'Black Jack Davy'...
Here's Warren Smith with one of the first recorded versions of the song, recording for Sun Records in 1956:
Woody Guthrie's take:

Black Jack Davey He Is Hunting Season

Since Bob Dylan is a known nicker, especially of folk traditionals, I believe he nicked the descriptive 'Spanish Leather' from 'Black Jack Davy' for his own 'Boots of Spanish Leather' back in the early 60s. Through the magic of the internet, I now see that author Michael Grey [Song & Dance Man III: The Art of Bob Dylan] has also postulated the same theory. Here is Dylan's version of 'Blackjack Davey':
The Waterboys are a trad folk tinged rock band, so of course they had to weigh in with another interpretation of 'The Raggle Taggle Gypsy':

I drove down to LA in 2001 to see

Black Jack Davey He Is Hunting In Florida

Elliott Smith perform at the Sunset Junction Street Fair. It was one of the most disheartening experiences of my life -- he was at his disillusioned and drugged out worst, but one song that stood out at that show, and not just because it was one of the only ones he managed to complete, was 'Black Jack Davy,' something I had never heard him cover before. It was a sweet little surprise in an otherwise depressing as all hell performance. (FYI: The braided hair is in tribute to

Black Jack Davey Chords

Willie Nelson,

J Davey Jack Davey

and the screaming in the background is due to the fair rides in close proximity to the stage.)
The White Stripes contribute probably my favorite version of 'Black Jack Davey' to date. Thanks to Jack White

Black Jack Davey He Is Hunting Meme

's electrifying guitar work, the song has a compelling intensity that brings its story to life:

Black Jack Davey Lyrics