Well there came an earl a-riding by
And a gypsy maid then he did see
"O nut brown girl" to her he said
"I want you to come away with me"

"I’ll take you up carry you home
And I'll put a safeguard over you
Your shoes shall be made of the Spanish leather
Your silken stockings all of blue"

"All night you lie 'neath the starry skies
All day you walk in the rain and snow
Now you shall lie in a feather bed
Wrapped in the arms of a husband O"

"But I like to lie 'neath the starry skies
I do not mind the rain and snow
So I'll be away come night and come day
To follow away with the gypsies O"

"But I will wed you sweet maid he said
I will marry you with a golden ring
You shall dance and merry merry be
And we shall have such a fine wedding"

"But I'll not marry you kind sir she said
I'll not wed you with a golden ring
For I'm free as the wind and I swear I can find
The man that will make my wedding"

"But no more would you be put in the stocks
Or trudge about from town to town
You shall ride in pomp and pride
In a red embroidered velvet gown"

"But I'll pawn my hat pawn my coat
Sell my silken stockings blue
I'll pawn my petticoat then my shift
To follow away with the gypsies O"

"Because my brothers three no more I'd see
If I went along with you
I'd rather be torn by thistle and thorn
With my bare feet all in the dew"

"Well then I'll lock you up in a castle tall
Bar you up in a room so high
You gypsy maid from the green wood glade
So that never a gypsy shall you find"

Three gypsies stood at the castle gate
They sang so high and they sang so low
The lady sits in her chamber late
And her heart it melted away as snow

They sung so sweet they sung so shrill
That fast her tears began to flow
Then she's put down her velvet gown
Her golden rings and all her show

She's took off her high heeled shoes
Made of the Spanish leather O
To run away in the rain and snow
To follow away with the gypsies O

And it was past midnight when her lord come home
Where his lady was he would know
The servants replied on every side
"O she's gone away with the gypsies O"

"Saddle my horse bridle my mare
And hang my sword to my saddle bow
So I may ride to seek my bride
Who has gone away with the gypsies O"

So they saddled his horse bridled his mare
And they hung his sword to his saddle bow
So he could ride to seek his bride
Who was gone away with the gypsies O

He rode high he rode low
And he rode through hills and valleys O
He rode 'til he spied his own fair bride
Following along with the gypsies O

"What makes you leave your house and lands?
What makes you leave your money O?
What takes you abroad from your wedded lord
To follow away with the gypsies O?"

"I want none of your house and lands
I want none of your money O
I don't want to be wed to a lord she said
I'll follow away with the gypsies O"

"But last night you slept in a feather bed
Wrapped in the arms of a husband O
Now you shall sleep on the cold cold ground
And walk along in the rain and snow"

"But I don't want sleep in a feather bed
Held in the arms of a husband O
I'd rather sleep on the cold cold ground
And walk along in the rain and snow"

"No that will not be I swear" said he
As he drew his sword from his saddle bow
Three times he smote on her lily white throat
Then her red blood down did flow

Three gypsies stood at the castle gate
And they sang so high and they sang so low
The lady sits in her chamber late
And her heart it melted away as snow

© traditional arranged Chris Foster