Ralph McTell is probably best known for the song Streets of London which has been covered by over a hundred artists around the world. From Clare to Here has proved almost as popular, during a long and continuing recording and performing career.
McTell's guitar style has been influenced by many of the USA's country blues 'Piedmont- style' guitar players of the early 20th century, including Blind Blake and Blind Willie McTell, from whom he took his name.
Gypsy
Ralph McTell Lyrics
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And stopped where they found water
And the gadgo boys with their greedy eyes
Coveted our daughters, coveted our daughters.
And the moon shone into the seas across the palms with silver
There was music that night in the dark campsite
And the music made you shiver; to be the gypsy.
Across the deserts our fathers come
With dancing boy, and bear, and drum
And the gadgo boys with their greedy eyes
Coveted our freedom, coveted our freedom.
And we fit in your landscape as the sixth to the five senses
But the pastures close as the cowboy knows
And the world's cut up by fences, to catch the gypsy.
La, la, la, la, ...
And the colours fade on the caravans
And old roads bend in change
And the vigilantes move us on
But still we do remain, and while we do remain
Your ways only keep us on the paths we have chosen.
When it's cold at night, and the fire won't light
And the children's hands are frozen, and it's hard to be the gypsy.
La, la, la, la, ...
Oh, the fire that burns, the cage, the key, the dancer of delight,
The flame that burns behind your eyes
Yet flickers in your sight, flickers in your sight.
And you may die of cold because the ways that you have chosen
Has warmed your hands, but not your heart and left your poor soul frozen.
Let the gypsy dance.
La, la, la, la, ...
Now if the gypsy cannot dance, in your heart you may discover
That the flame needs air to burn, and soon it'll be all over.
If the gypsy cannot dance, in your heart you may discover
That the flame needs air to burn, and soon it'll be all over.
Now if the gypsy cannot dance, in your heart you may discover
That the flame needs air to burn, and soon it'll be all over.
If the gypsy cannot dance, in your heart you may discover
That the flame needs air to burn, and soon it'll be all over.
Now if the gypsy cannot dance, in your heart you may discover
That the flame needs air to burn, and soon it'll be all over.
If the gypsy cannot dance, in your heart you may discover
That the flame needs air to burn, and soon it'll be all over.
Ralph McTell's song "Gypsy" expresses the feelings of the gypsy people who have been discriminated against and pushed aside by mainstream society. McTell represents the idea that gypsies are people who are pushed to the margins of society, who are continuously being driven away from their culture and their roots. The song talks about the gypsies' struggle to maintain their identity and their way of life in a society that sees them as outsiders.
The lyrics represent the cultural heritage of gypsies and their struggle to survive in a hostile world. The opening line describes gypsies' migration and eventual settlement in foreign lands. The line "Coveted our daughters" is a reference to the discrimination faced by gypsies in foreign lands, and how they are considered inferior to the majority population. The mention of the moon and the dark campsite sets the mood for the song's nostalgic and mournful tone. The song's refrain, "La, la, la" sets a haunting musical pattern reminiscent of traditional gypsy music. The line "And while we do remain, your ways only keep us on the paths we have chosen" suggests that gypsies choose to continue living the way they do despite societal pressures. The song ends with a beautiful plea to let gypsies dance and celebrate life.
Line by Line Meaning
Our fathers out of India come
Our ancestors migrated to other lands from India.
And stopped where they found water
They settled wherever they found water.
And the gadgo boys with their greedy eyes
Coveted our daughters, coveted our daughters.
The locals with their greedy eyes, desired our daughters.
And the moon shone into the seas across the palms with silver
There was music that night in the dark campsite
And the music made you shiver; to be the gypsy.
The shining moon illuminated the water and the palms while music played on a dark night. The music made us feel alive because of our gypsy heritage.
Across the deserts our fathers come
With dancing boy, and bear, and drum
And the gadgo boys with their greedy eyes
Coveted our freedom, coveted our freedom.
Our forefathers arrived with dance, music, and playfulness, but the locals still desired our independence.
And we fit in your landscape as the sixth to the five senses
But the pastures close as the cowboy knows
And the world's cut up by fences, to catch the gypsy.
We blend into the setting as the sixth sense, but as civilization spreads, we are contained by fences that trap us gypsies.
And the colours fade on the caravans
And old roads bend in change
And the vigilantes move us on
But still we do remain, and while we do remain
Your ways only keep us on the paths we have chosen.
When it's cold at night, and the fire won't light
And the children's hands are frozen, and it's hard to be the gypsy.
The caravans are losing their lustre, and old roads are changing. The authorities keep pushing us away, but we still remain. While we remain, we follow our own path, and when we are struggling, it becomes challenging to keep up with our gypsy lifestyle.
Oh, the fire that burns, the cage, the key, the dancer of delight,
The flame that burns behind your eyes
Yet flickers in your sight, flickers in your sight.
The fire that burns inside our hearts, like the dancer of delight, cannot be tamed. It burns in our eyes and flickers in our sight.
And you may die of cold because the ways that you have chosen
Has warmed your hands, but not your heart and left your poor soul frozen.
Let the gypsy dance.
Even though our chosen paths may lead to coldness, it still warms our hands, if not our hearts or souls. Only through dance can we express our true selves.
Now if the gypsy cannot dance, in your heart you may discover
That the flame needs air to burn, and soon it'll be all over.
If the gypsy cannot dance, in your heart you may discover
That the flame needs air to burn, and soon it'll be all over.
Now if the gypsy cannot dance, in your heart you may discover
That the flame needs air to burn, and soon it'll be all over.
If the gypsy cannot dance, in your heart you may discover
That the flame needs air to burn, and soon it'll be all over.
If the gypsy cannot dance, then the joy within them will wither away, like the flame that needs air. The repetition of this song's end emphasizes this sentiment.
Contributed by Jayce R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.