Black Jack David come ridin’ through the woods,
Singin’ so loud and merry
That the green hills all around him ring,
And he charmed the heart of a lady,
And he charmed the heart of a lady.
“How old are you, my pretty little miss,
How old are you, my lady?”
She answered him with a “Tee, bee, hee,
I’ll be sixteen next summer.”
“Come, go with me, my pretty little miss,
Come, go with me, my lady;
I’ll take you across the deep blue sea
Where you never shall want for money.
“Won’t you pull off those high heeled shoes
All made of Spanish leather;
Won’t you put on some low heeled shoes?
And we’ll ride off together.”
She soon pulled off those high heeled shoes
All made of Spanish leather;
She put on those low heeled shoes
And they rode off together.
‘Twas late at night when the land-lord come
Inquirin’ for his lady.
He was posted by a fair young maid:
“She’s gone with Black Jack David.”
“Go saddle me my noble steed,
Go bridle me my derby;
I’ll ride to the east, I’ll ride to the west,
Or overtake my lady.”
He rode till he came to the deep below;
The stream was deep and muddy.
Tears came tricklin’ down his cheeks,
For there he spied his lady.
“How can you leave your house and land,
How can you leave your baby,
How can you leave your husband dear
To go with Black Jack David?”
“Very well can I leave my house and land,
Very well can I leave my baby,
Much better can I leave my husband dear
To go with Black Jack David.
“I won’t t come back to you, my love,
Nor I won’t come back, my husband;
I wouldn’t give a kiss from David’s lips
For all your land and money.
“Last night I lay on a feather bed
Beside my husband and baby;
Tonight I lay on the cold damp ground
Beside the Black Jack David.”
She soon run through her gay clothing,
Her velvet shoes and stockings;
Her gold ring off her finger was gone,
And the gold plate off her bosom.
“Oh, once I had a house and land,
A feather bed and money,
But now I’ve come to an old straw pad,
With nothing but Black Jack David.”
