Black Jack David
Warren Smith Lyrics


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Black Jack David come around through the woods
Singing so loud and merry
His voice kept a-ringing through the green, green trees
He spied a fair-haired maiden
He spied a fair-haired maiden

Would you forsake your husband, dear
Would you forsake your baby
Would you forsake your fine, fine home
And go with a Black Jack David
Go with Black Jack David?

No dear Jack I can not go
Away and leave my baby
I can not forsake my husband and home
And go with you Black Jack David
Go with you Black Jack David

Listen dear lass, my name is Jack
I've come from afar
Looking for a fair-haired lass like you
Won't you come and be my bride
Come and be my bride

Yes, I'll forsake my husband, dear
And I'll forsake my baby
I'll forsake my fine, fine home
And go with you Black Jack David
Go with you Black Jack David

Last night she slept on a fine, feathered bed
Beside her husband and baby
Tonight she slept on the cold, cold ground




Beside old Black Jack David
Beside old Black Jack David

Overall Meaning

The song "Black Jack David" by Warren Smith is a traditional Appalachian folk song that tells the story of a man named Black Jack David who comes across a fair-haired maiden in the woods. The song opens with Black Jack David's loud and merry singing echoing through the trees. He then spots the fair-haired maiden and asks her to forsake her husband, baby, and fine home to come away with him. The girl initially refuses, but Black Jack David persists in asking her to be his bride. In the end, the girl gives in to his pleas and decides to go with him, leaving her family to sleep on the cold ground beside Black Jack David.


The song "Black Jack David" reflects the themes and experiences of Appalachian people, who were often poor and lived in remote, rural areas. Through the story of the fair-haired maiden, the song explores the struggle between love and duty, and the difficult choices that people in these communities often had to face. The song also reflects the power of music in Appalachian culture, as Black Jack David's singing is what draws the maiden to him in the first place.


Line by Line Meaning

Black Jack David come around through the woods
Black Jack David has wandered through the forest and reached this place.


Singing so loud and merry
He is happy and expressing his joy through song.


His voice kept a-ringing through the green, green trees
His singing echoed through the lush trees.


He spied a fair-haired maiden
He saw a woman with light-colored hair.


Would you forsake your husband, dear
Jack asks the woman if she would leave her spouse.


Would you forsake your baby
He questions if she is willing to abandon her child.


Would you forsake your fine, fine home
Jack inquires if she would leave her luxurious abode.


And go with a Black Jack David
He asks if she will accompany him on his travels.


Listen dear lass, my name is Jack
Jack introduces himself to the woman.


I've come from afar
He has journeyed a long distance to arrive here.


Looking for a fair-haired lass like you
He searched for a woman with light-colored hair, and found her in the maiden he met.


Won't you come and be my bride
He proposes to the woman by asking her to marry him.


Yes, I'll forsake my husband, dear
The woman agrees to leave her spouse behind.


And I'll forsake my baby
She is willing to abandon her child to be with Jack.


I'll forsake my fine, fine home
The woman agrees to leave behind her luxurious abode.


And go with you Black Jack David
She will join Jack on his travels.


Last night she slept on a fine, feathered bed
The woman slept comfortably in a soft, luxurious bed the previous night.


Beside her husband and baby
She slept next to her spouse and child.


Tonight she slept on the cold, cold ground
The woman slept on the bare, chilly earth.


Beside old Black Jack David
Jack is now her only companion.




Writer(s): W. Smith

Contributed by Matthew A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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HMTLN

rockabilly

The Lone Wanderer

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