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Black Jack Davey

from Live in Brooklyn by Painless Parker

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about

An old tune that traces its roots back across the Atlantic to the Anglo-Scottish border, home of many a fine ballad. I learned it from a version by Mike Seeger.

lyrics

Black Jack Davey come a-ridin' through,
Whistlin' and a-singin'
Made the woods around him sing
And charmed the heart of a lady,
He charmed the heart of a lady

"How old are you my pretty little miss,
How old are you my honey?"
She answered him with a loving smile
"I'll be sixteen on Sunday,
I'll be sixteen on Sunday"

"Come ride with me my pretty little miss,
Come ride with me my honey,
I'll take you where the grass is green
And you'll never want for money,
You'll never want for money

"Pull off, pull off your high-heeled boots
All made of the Spanish leather
Get behind me on my horse
And we'll ride off together
We'll both ride off together"

Well she pulled off her high-heeled boots
All made of the Spanish leather
Got behind him on his horse
And they rode off together
They both rode off together

Her husband came home late that night
Inquiring for his lady
The servant spoke before she thought,
"She's gone with Black Jack Davey,
Run off with Black Jack Davey"

"Go saddle me up my coal-black stud,
he's speedier than the grey
I rode all day and I'll ride all night
And overtake my lady,
Yes, I'll bring home my lady"

Well he rode all night till the break of dawn
when he came to a river ragin'
There he spied his darlin' bride
In the arms of Black Jack Davey
Wrapped up with Black Jack Davey

"Pull off, pull off your long blue gloves
All made of the finest leather
Give to me your lily-white hand
And we'll ride home together,
We'll both ride home together"

Well she pulled off her long blue gloves
All made of the finest leather
Gave to him her lily-white hand
But said goodbye forever,
She bid farewell forever

"Oh will you forsake your house and home,
Will you forsake your baby?
Will you forsake your husband, too,
For the love of Black Jack Davey,
To go with Black Jack Davey?"

"Well I forsook my house and home
And I forsook my baby
And I'll forsake my husband, too,
For the love of Black Jack Davey
I love my Black Jack Davey

Last night I slept on a feather bed
Between my husband and baby
Tonight I'll sleep on the cold wet ground
In the arms of Black Jack Davey,
I love my Black Jack Davey"

credits

from Live in Brooklyn, released November 28, 2014
Words and music: Traditional
Vocals, Mandolin, foot tambourine: Painless Parker

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Painless Parker Brooklyn, New York

Born under a barstool and raised by a pack of wild koalas, Painless Parker plays a mixed bag of country laments, sea shanties, murder ballads and classic rockers, filtered through a grimy, whiskey-stained punk lens. He's fluent in two languages, and can cuss in at least seventeen. He enjoys rabble-rousing, shindigging, booze drinking and merrymaking. ... more

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