Born… Read Full Bio ↴Eliza Carthy (b. 1975) is an English folk singer and violinist.
Born on 23rd August 1975, she is the daughter of legendary English folk musicians singer/guitarist Martin Carthy and singer Norma Waterson. She formed The Waterdaughters with her mother, aunt (Lal Waterson), and cousin Maria Knight in 1989. She has subsequently worked with Nancy Kerr, and also with her parents as Waterson:Carthy, in addition to her own solo work.
She has twice been nominated for the Mercury Music Prize for UK album of the year: in 1998 for Red Rice, and again in 2003 for Anglicana. In 2003 Carthy swept the boards at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, winning Folk Singer of the Year, Best Album (for Anglicana), and Best Traditional Track (for "Worcester City").
In 2004 she was part of Oysterband's Big Session, a collaboration with numerous folk artists. They produced an album The Big Session Volume One, and the group as a whole were awarded Best Group at the Folk Awards in 2005.
Little Gypsy Girl
Eliza Carthy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My mother, she learned me some camping for to do.
They put the pack all on my back, they all did wish me well,
So I set off to London town, some fortunes for to tell.
Now one night I came to some fair London street,
A handsome young squire I chanced for to meet,
He viewed my brown cheeks and he liked them so well,
"Why yes, kind sir, give me hold of your hand.
Why, you have got houses, you've riches and you've land.
Now all those pretty ladies, you must put them to one side,
For I'm the little gypsy girl that is to be your bride."
Now once I was a gypsy girl but now a squire's bride,
I've servants for to wait on me and in the carriage ride.
The bells they rang so merrily, the sweet music did play,
And a jolly time we had upon the gypsy's wedding day.
In Eliza Carthy's song, "Little Gypsy Girl," we are introduced to a narrator who identifies herself as a member of the gypsy community. She tells us that her father is the king of the gypsies, and that her mother taught her how to camping. The singer sets off to London, carrying her pack on her back, in order to tell fortunes. While in London, she meets a young squire and, after reading his fortune, he becomes smitten with her. The singer uses her gift to predict that the squire has wealth, land, and houses, and that she will become his bride. Upon arriving in London, the singer is a member of the gypsy community. However, by the end of the song, she is the bride of a wealthy squire, enjoying a life of luxury complete with servants and a carriage ride.
The song speaks about themes of identity, social mobility, and the power of fortune-telling. The singer's transition from a member of a marginalized community to the bride of a wealthy squire demonstrates the inherent power of fortune-telling while also serving as a form of society's upward mobility. We get a sense that the community that the singer came from is on the fringes of society, which contrasts with the wealth and status she attains upon becoming the squire's bride. However, it is essential to remember that, at the end of the song, the singer mentions that she had a "jolly time we had upon the gypsy's wedding day," suggesting that even though she experienced a change in her social class, she still recognizes the importance of her roots.
Line by Line Meaning
My father is the king of the gypsies, it is true,
I come from a family of gypsies and my father is the leader of our community.
My mother, she learned me some camping for to do.
My mother taught me how to live a nomadic life and survive in the outdoors.
They put the pack all on my back, they all did wish me well,
My family helped me prepare for my journey and wished me luck as I embarked on my adventure.
So I set off to London town, some fortunes for to tell.
I traveled to London with the intention of making a living by telling fortunes.
Now one night I came to some fair London street,
One night, I arrived at a beautiful street in London.
A handsome young squire I chanced for to meet,
I met a charming young nobleman by chance.
He viewed my brown cheeks and he liked them so well,
He found my appearance attractive and appealing.
He says, "My little gypsy girl, can you my fortune tell?"
He asked me to use my skills as a fortune teller to predict his future.
"Why yes, kind sir, give me hold of your hand.
"Certainly, sir. Let me see your hand.
Why, you have got houses, you've riches and you've land.
I can see that you are wealthy and have many possessions, including houses and land.
Now all those pretty ladies, you must put them to one side,
You should forget about all the other women and choose me instead.
For I'm the little gypsy girl that is to be your bride."
Because I predicted your fortune, I should become your wife.
Now once I was a gypsy girl but now a squire's bride,
I used to be part of a gypsy family, but now I am married to a wealthy nobleman.
I've servants for to wait on me and in the carriage ride.
As a rich woman, I have servants to attend to my needs and can travel in a carriage.
The bells they rang so merrily, the sweet music did play,
At my wedding, the bells rang joyfully and there was beautiful music.
And a jolly time we had upon the gypsy's wedding day.
Everyone had a great time celebrating my wedding, even my old gypsy community.
Contributed by Lincoln V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.