Raggle Taggle Gypsies Variations

Away with the raggle taggle gypsies by John M. (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Wikimedia Commons.
 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Away_with_the_raggle_taggle_gypsies_-_geograph.org.uk_-_440482.jpg

Song background

" 'Gypsy Davy' and 'Gypsy Davey' redirect here. For the sculptor and songwriter, see Gyp Mills. For the 2011 documentary film, see Gypsy Davy (film).

'The Raggle Taggle Gypsy' (Roud 1, Child 200), is a traditional folk song that originated as a Scottish border ballad, and has been popular throughout Britain, Ireland and North America. It concerns a rich lady who runs off to join the gypsies (or one gypsy). Common alternative names are 'Gypsy Davy', 'The Raggle Taggle Gypsies O', 'The Gypsy Laddie(s)', 'Black Jack David' (or 'Davy'), ['Molly Dance'], and 'Seven Yellow Gypsies'.

In the folk tradition the song was extremely popular, spread all over the English-speaking world by broadsheets and oral tradition" (Wikipedia).

Rhythm patterns

The following rhythm pattern are used in this song variations:

• Basic Drum Beat from Western music
• Standard Chiftatelli (Tsifteteli) from Anatolia and the Balkans
• Open Chiftatelli (Tsifteteli) from Anatolia and the Balkans
• Djole (Djolé) from Sierra Leone
• Fanga from Liberia
• Fankani from Wassolon region, West Africa
• Highlife from (modern) Ghana
• Kuku from Guinea
• Lamba from Guinea
• Macru (Macrou) probably from Guinea

Performance

Listen and watch the performance of Rapalje, which is a very traditional performance in the style of Irish fiddlers.

Jesse Ferguson covers the song in the style of a Scottish border ballad, with strong vocal, a guitar and a lot of percussion.