Seven Gypsies on Yon Hill

Seven gypsies on yon hill
They were neither bright nor bonny O,
But they sang so sweet with the changing of their notes
That they stole Lord Castle's lady O.

When Lord Castle he came home
He inquired for his lady O,
But the waiting-maid she thus replied,
"She is gone with a gypsy laddie O."

"Come saddle to me my milk-white steed,
The bay is not so speedy O,
And I'll ride east and I'll ride west
Till I overtake my lady O."

So he rode east and he rode west
Till he came near Niceree valley O,
And there he met a poor old man;
He was both weary and tired O.

"Have you been east and have you. been west ?
Have you been to Niceree valley O ?
And did you see my lady fair,
And is she going with a gypsy laddie O ?"

"Yes, I've been east and I've been west
And I've been to Niceree valley O
And there I saw your lady fair,
And she was staying with a gypsy laddie O."

So he rode east and he rode west
Till he came to Niceree valley O,
And there he found his lady fair,
And she was going with a gypsy laddie O.

"Will you come home, my dear ?" he said,
"Will you come home, my honey O ?
And by the point of my broadsword
Not a gypsy shall ever come nigh thee O."

"No, I won't go home, my dear," she said,
"Nor I won't go home, my honey O,
For I'd rather have a kiss from a gypsy laddie's lips
Than all Lord Castle's body O."

"Will you forsake your house and land ?
Will you forsake your baby, too ?
Will you forsake your own dear lord
And go with a gypsy laddie O ?"

"Yes, I'll forsake my house and land,
And I'll forsake my baby, too,
And I'll forsake my own dear lord
And go with a gypsy laddie O.

Last night I slept on a bed of down,
Me and my honey O,
But tonight I'll sleep on a cold barn floor
With nothing but gypsies around me O.

They gave to me the honey sweet,
And they gave to me the sugar, too,
But I gave to them far better things:
I gave seven gold rings from my fingers O."

Seven gypsies on yon hill,
They were neither bright nor bonny O
But they all came down for to die
For the stealing of Lord Castle's lady O.

Child #200
From Penguin Book of Canada Folk Songs, Fowke
RG