Raggle Taggle Gypsy

<br>There were three gypsies a come to my door, <br>And down stairs ran this a-lady, O. <br>One sang high and another sang low <br>And the other sang bonny bonny Biscay O <br><br>Then she pulled off her silk finished gown, <br>And put on hose of leather, O <br>The ragged ragged rags about our door <br>And she`s gone with the wraggle, taggle gypsies O <br><br>It was late last night when my lord came home, <br>Inquiring for his a-lady O <br>The servants said on every hand <br>She`s gone with the wraggle-taggle gypsies, O <br><br>O saddle to me my milk-white steed <br>And go and fetch me my pony, O <br>That I may ride and seek my bride, <br>Who`s gone with the wraggle-taggle gypsies O <br><br>O he rode high, and he rode low <br>He rode through wood and copses too, <br>Until he came to a wide open field, <br>And there he espied his a-lady O <br><br>What makes you leave you house and land? <br>What makes you leave you money, O? <br>What makes you leave you new-wedded lord, <br>To follow the wraggle-taggle gypsies, O. <br><br>What care I for my house and land? <br>What care I for my money,O? <br>What care I for my new-wedded lord, <br>I`m off with the wraggle-taggle gypsies, O! <br><br>"Last night you slept on a goosefeather bed, <br>With the sheet turned down so bravely, O. <br>Tonight you`ll sleep in a cold open field, <br>Along with the wraggle-taggle gypsies, O." <br><br>"What care I for a goose-feather bed, <br>With the sheet turned down so bravely, O. <br>For tonight I`ll sleet in a cold open field, <br>Along with the wraggle-taggle gypsies, O. <br><br>info:<br>=====<br>Dorothy Scarborough in her "Song Catcher from the Southern <br>Mountains" says that in the earliest edition of the ballad, the <br>gypsy is called Johnny Faa, a name common among gypsies. When <br>the gypsies were banished from Scotland in 1624, Johnny Faa <br>disobeyed the decree and was hanged.