The Raggle Taggle Gypsy, Christy Moore Lyrics and guitar chords
with mandolin sheet music tab. The wraggle taggle gypsy tin whistle sheet music notes plus the tenor guitar tab included. Also recorded by Derek Ryan. Christy says he learned this song from the singing of John Reilly. It's a traditional song also recorded by Planxty. I done a little research on finding the origins of this old folk song with no real evidence of who wrote it or where it comes from. There's over 200 different versions of the song scattered around Europe. The version here in my opinion sounds like an English folk song, but I could be wrong.
"The Raggle Taggle Gypsy" (sometimes known as "The Gypsy Laddie") is a traditional Scottish folk song that tells a story of love, freedom, and rebellion. Here's a breakdown of its themes and meaning:
Story OverviewThe song narrates how a noble lady leaves her wealthy, privileged life behind to follow a wandering gypsy (or group of gypsies). Despite her husband’s efforts to retrieve her, she refuses to return, choosing the free-spirited life over the confines of wealth and social status.
Themes and Meaning
Story OverviewThe song narrates how a noble lady leaves her wealthy, privileged life behind to follow a wandering gypsy (or group of gypsies). Despite her husband’s efforts to retrieve her, she refuses to return, choosing the free-spirited life over the confines of wealth and social status.
Themes and Meaning
- Freedom vs. Confinement: The lady’s decision to leave reflects a desire for liberation from the restrictions of her noble life. The gypsy represents a life of adventure, passion, and unshackled existence.
- Romantic Rebellion: There’s a romanticized idea of leaving behind societal expectations for love or passion. The gypsy may symbolize an idealized love or a yearning for something beyond material wealth.
- Class and Social Commentary: The noble husband often represents control and societal structure. The lady’s choice can be interpreted as a rejection of rigid class divisions and materialism.
- Mysticism of the Gypsy: Gypsies in folklore often represent the mysterious and the unknown. The allure of the gypsy lifestyle reflects a longing for adventure and the allure of the road.
[Am]There was three of the gypsies came to our hall door
They came brave an'[C] bol-del-o
But there's[Em] one sang[Am] high and the[Em] other sang[Am] low
And the lady sang The[Em] Raggle-Taggle Gypsy[Am]o
It was upstairs, downstairs the lady ran
She took off her silk so fine and put on a dress of leather-o
And it was the cry all around our door
She's away with the Raggle-Taggle Gypsy-o
It was late last night when the lord came in
Inquirin' for his lady-o
And the servin' girls took from hand to hand
She's away with the Raggle-Taggle Gypsy-o
You come saddle for me my milk-white steed
My bay one is not speedy-o
And sure I will ride and I'll seek my bride
That's away with the Raggle-Taggle Gypsy-0
O for he rode east and he rode west
Half the south and the east also
Until he rode to the wide open field
It was there he spied was his darling-o
Sayin Are you forseekin' your house or land
Are you forseekin' your money-Oo
Are you forseekin' your own wedded Lord
An' you're goin' with the Raggle-Taggle Gypsy-o
What do I care for my house or land
Neither for my money-o
Or what do I care for my own wedded Lord
I am goin' with my Raggle-Taggle Gypsy-0
It was ere last night you'd a goose-feather bed
With the sheets pulled down so combley-o
But tonight you'll lie in the cold open field
All along with the Raggle-Taggle Gypsy-o
What do I care for my goose-feather bed
With the sheets pulled down so combley-o
But tonight I'll lie on a cold barren floor
All along with my Raggle-Taggle Gypsy-o
Sayin' You rode high when I rode low
You rode woods and valleys-o
But I'd rather get a kiss of the yalla gypsy's lips
O than all Lor' Cash's of money-o
They came brave an'[C] bol-del-o
But there's[Em] one sang[Am] high and the[Em] other sang[Am] low
And the lady sang The[Em] Raggle-Taggle Gypsy[Am]o
It was upstairs, downstairs the lady ran
She took off her silk so fine and put on a dress of leather-o
And it was the cry all around our door
She's away with the Raggle-Taggle Gypsy-o
It was late last night when the lord came in
Inquirin' for his lady-o
And the servin' girls took from hand to hand
She's away with the Raggle-Taggle Gypsy-o
You come saddle for me my milk-white steed
My bay one is not speedy-o
And sure I will ride and I'll seek my bride
That's away with the Raggle-Taggle Gypsy-0
O for he rode east and he rode west
Half the south and the east also
Until he rode to the wide open field
It was there he spied was his darling-o
Sayin Are you forseekin' your house or land
Are you forseekin' your money-Oo
Are you forseekin' your own wedded Lord
An' you're goin' with the Raggle-Taggle Gypsy-o
What do I care for my house or land
Neither for my money-o
Or what do I care for my own wedded Lord
I am goin' with my Raggle-Taggle Gypsy-0
It was ere last night you'd a goose-feather bed
With the sheets pulled down so combley-o
But tonight you'll lie in the cold open field
All along with the Raggle-Taggle Gypsy-o
What do I care for my goose-feather bed
With the sheets pulled down so combley-o
But tonight I'll lie on a cold barren floor
All along with my Raggle-Taggle Gypsy-o
Sayin' You rode high when I rode low
You rode woods and valleys-o
But I'd rather get a kiss of the yalla gypsy's lips
O than all Lor' Cash's of money-o
Raggle taggle gypsy guitar tab in CGDA Tuning
Here's the guitar chords in the key of Dm
[Dm]There was three of the gypsies came to our hall door
They came brave an'[F] bol-del-o
But there's[Am] one sang[Dm] high and the[Am] other sang[Dm] low
And the lady sang The[Am] Raggle-Taggle Gypsy[Dm]o
[Dm]There was three of the gypsies came to our hall door
They came brave an'[F] bol-del-o
But there's[Am] one sang[Dm] high and the[Am] other sang[Dm] low
And the lady sang The[Am] Raggle-Taggle Gypsy[Dm]o
Folk Songs have been an integral part of the King's Singers' repertoire since their first recording days in 1972; for this collection they have returned to their own islands and to a group of arrangers to whom they owe an immense debt of gratitude. One of the songs included here forges a link with their first record. 'The Oak and the Ash' was one of Gordon Langford's first arrangements for the Singers, and after a host of others over the intervening years, he has now added another sparkling pair - 'There's nae Luck about the House' and 'Bobby Shaftoe', both liberally sprinkled with his gentle wit and quirky harmonic twists. Daryl Runswick has once again bent his untiring imagination to the task, and produced the quasi-classical 'O Waly, Waly' (with a little help from Bach) and a startlingly effective version of 'The Raggle Taggle Gypsies'. His 'She moved through the Fair' is a re-working of a beautiful version first performed a few years ago on TV by Val Doonican and the King's Singers. Goff Richards, another name to appear regularly on King's Singers' programmes, has contributed the saucy Cornish story 'Lamorna', together with a lively version of the popular Dance to thy Daddy'; while Peter Knight's characteristic version of The Londonderry Air has been a favourite with King's Singers' audiences for some years. 'Star of the County Down' has drawn a contemporary response from the pen of Howard Goodall, and David Overton's version of the little-known 'Jack the Jolly Tar' undoubtedly leaves a taste of salt in the mouth. The inclusion of a string quartet in John Rutter's 'Barbara Allen' gives that tale an added poignancy. For the remainder, it's good to see that some of the Singers themselves have time to put pen to paper and contribute
arrangements to complete a mixture that should bring a tear to the eye, a smile to the lips, and a warm flood of nostalgia for a rich heritage of folk song.
arrangements to complete a mixture that should bring a tear to the eye, a smile to the lips, and a warm flood of nostalgia for a rich heritage of folk song.
My lovely Irish gypsy girl Song Lyrics
She's a wild flower, blooming in the sun
With hair like fire, and eyes that shine like none
Her spirit is free, she dances in the wind
My lovely Irish gypsy girl, she's a beauty within
Chorus:
Oh my lovely Irish gypsy girl
With a heart of gold and a twirl
She's a wanderer, a lover, a dreamer
My world is brighter, with her as my beam
Verse 2:
She's a nomad, with a heart full of dreams
Her feet never stay in one place, she's a wanderer it seems
Her laughter is contagious, her smile so bright
My lovely Irish gypsy girl, she's my ray of light
Chorus:
Oh my lovely Irish gypsy girl
With a heart of gold and a twirl
She's a wanderer, a lover, a dreamer
My world is brighter, with her as my beam
Bridge:
She's got a charm, that's hard to resist
With a touch of magic, she casts her spell with a twist
She's a mystery, I'll never understand
But I know I'll follow her, to the ends of the land
Chorus:
Oh my lovely Irish gypsy girl
With a heart of gold and a twirl
She's a wanderer, a lover, a dreamer
My world is brighter, with her as my beam
Outro:
My lovely Irish gypsy girl, you've stolen my heart
With your free spirit and your love, I'll never fall apart
I'll follow you, wherever you may go
My lovely Irish gypsy girl, my love for you will always grow.
She's a wild flower, blooming in the sun
With hair like fire, and eyes that shine like none
Her spirit is free, she dances in the wind
My lovely Irish gypsy girl, she's a beauty within
Chorus:
Oh my lovely Irish gypsy girl
With a heart of gold and a twirl
She's a wanderer, a lover, a dreamer
My world is brighter, with her as my beam
Verse 2:
She's a nomad, with a heart full of dreams
Her feet never stay in one place, she's a wanderer it seems
Her laughter is contagious, her smile so bright
My lovely Irish gypsy girl, she's my ray of light
Chorus:
Oh my lovely Irish gypsy girl
With a heart of gold and a twirl
She's a wanderer, a lover, a dreamer
My world is brighter, with her as my beam
Bridge:
She's got a charm, that's hard to resist
With a touch of magic, she casts her spell with a twist
She's a mystery, I'll never understand
But I know I'll follow her, to the ends of the land
Chorus:
Oh my lovely Irish gypsy girl
With a heart of gold and a twirl
She's a wanderer, a lover, a dreamer
My world is brighter, with her as my beam
Outro:
My lovely Irish gypsy girl, you've stolen my heart
With your free spirit and your love, I'll never fall apart
I'll follow you, wherever you may go
My lovely Irish gypsy girl, my love for you will always grow.
