Seven Yellow Gypsies
Martin Carthy Lyrics

There were seven yellow gypsies and all in a row
There were seven gypsies with yellow skin who stood side by side

And none of them lame nor lazy-O
None of these gypsies were disabled or lazy

And they sang so sweet and so complete
They sang in a pleasing and perfect way

That they stole the heart of the lady-O
Their music captured the affections of a lady

And they sang sweet and they sang shrill
Their singing was both sweet and high-pitched

That fast her tears began to flow
Their music moved her to tears

And she lay down her silken gown
She removed her fancy clothing

Her golden rings and all her show
She took off all her jewelry and accessories

She plucked off all her highheeled shoes
She removed her fancy shoes with high heels

All made of the Spanish leather-O
Her shoes were made from Spanish leather

And she would in the street in her bare bare feet
She walked in the street with no shoes on

To run away with the seven yellow gypsies-O
She fled with the group of seven yellow-skinned gypsies

They rode north and they rode south
The gypsies traveled in both north and south directions

And they rode it late and early-O
They traveled at all hours of the day and night

Until they come to the river side
Eventually, they arrived at the riverbank

And oh but she was weary-O
The lady was tired and exhausted

Says, Last night I rode by the river side
The lady spoke and said that she had ridden by the river the previous night

With me servants all around me-O
She was surrounded by her servants

And tonight I must go with me bare bare feet
But that night, she had to go barefoot

All along with the seven yellow gypsies-O
As she was running away with the group of seven yellow-skinned gypsies

It was late last night when the lord come home
The lord arrived home late the previous night

And his servants they stood ready-O
His servants were waiting for him

And the one took his boots and the other took his horse
One took his boots, and the other took his horse

But away was his own dear lady-O
But his lady was already gone

And when he come to the servants' door
When he arrived at the servants' door

Enquiring for his lady-O
Asking where his lady was

The one she sighed and the other one cried
One of the servants sighed, and the other cried

She's away with the seven yellow gypsies-O
Telling him that she had run away with the group of yellow gypsies

For I met with a boy and a bonny, bonny boy
The lady's encounter with a boy

And they were strange stories he told me-O
The boy told her odd tales

Of the moon that rose by the river side
The boy told of the moon rising by the river

For pack (??) with the seven yellow gypsies-O
Involving the group of yellow gypsies in his story

Go saddle to me my bonny, bonny mare
The lord commands his mare to be saddled for him

For the brown's not so speedy-O
Because the brown horse is not very fast

And I will ride for to seek my bride
He's going to find his wife

Who's run away with the seven yellow gypsies-O
Who had fled with the group of seven yellow-skinned gypsies

Oh he rode north and he rode south
He traveled north and south for his search

Until he come to the river side
He finally came to the riverbank

And it was there that he spied his lady-O
He saw his lady there

What makes you leave all your house and your land
He asks what compelled her to abandon her house and land

All your gold and your treasure for to go?
And all her wealth

And what makes you leave your new-wedded lord
He also asks why she would leave her newly-wedded husband

To run away with the seven yellow gypsies-O?
To elope with a group of yellow gypsies

What care I for me house and me land?
She responds asking, 'What do I care for my house or land?'

What care I for me treasure-O?
She doesn't care about her wealth either

And what care I for me new-wedded lord
Nor does she care about her new husband

For I'm away with the seven yellow gypsies-O
Because she is with the group of seven yellow-skinned gypsies

Last night you slept in a goosefeather bed
He recalls that she slept in a luxurious goosefeather bed

With the sheet turned down so bravely-O
And that she had turned the bed sheet with a bold attitude

And tonight you will sleep in the cold barren shed
But now she will sleep in a cold, empty shed

All along with the seven yellow gypsies-O
Because she's with the group of seven yellow-skinned gypsies

What care I for me goosefeather bed
She doesn't care about her fancy bed anymore

With the sheet turned down so bravely-O?
Why should she?

For tonight I will sleep in the cold barren shed
Because tonight, she can only sleep in a cold, empty shed

All along with the seven yellow gypsies-O
As she is going along with the seven yellow-skinned gypsies

And I wouldn't give a kiss from the gypsies' lips
She declares that she prefers to be with the gypsies

For all of your land or your money-O
Rather than having all his land or money