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http://www.watersoncarthy.com/

from the 1969 Fontana Records album
"Prince Heathen"
with Dave Swarbrick (fiddle)

reissued on "Martin Carthy: A Collection"

He also sang it live in studio in July 2006 for the DVD
"Guitar Maestros"

From the original sleeve notes:

"There is a whole school of thought which seeks to show that ballads are records of historical occurrences. Possibly they are but I can't see that it matters two hoots. The idea of a wife being taken by the gypsies is as old as the gypsies themselves. I have taken the liberty of filling the story out by plundering different versions."

There were seven yellow gypsies and all in a row
And none of them lame nor lazy-O,
And they sang so sweet and so complete
That they stole the heart of the lady-O.

And they sang sweet and they sang shrill
That fast her tears began to flow,
And she lay down her silken gown,
Her golden rings and all her show.

She plucked off all her highheeled shoen,
All made of the Spanish leather-O,
And she would in the street in her bare bare feet
To run away with the seven yellow gypsies-O.

They rode north and they rode south,
And they rode it late and early-O
Until they come to the river side
And oh but she was weary-O.

Says, Last night I rode by the river side
With me servants all around me-O,
And tonight I must go with me bare bare feet
All along with the seven yellow gypsies-O.

It was late last night when the lord come home
And his servants they stood ready-O.
And the one took his boots and the other took his horse,
But away was his own dear lady-O.

And when he come to the servants' door
Enquiring for his lady-O,
The one she sighed and the other one cried,
She's away with the seven yellow gypsies-O.

For I met with a boy and a bonny, bonny boy,
And they were strange stories he told me-O,
Of the moon that rose by the river side
For pack (??) with the seven yellow gypsies-O.

Go saddle to me my bonny, bonny mare,
For the brown's not so speedy-O.
And I will ride for to seek my bride
Who's run away with the seven yellow gypsies-O.

Oh he rode north and he rode south,
And he rode it late and early-O
Until he come to the river side
And it was there that he spied his lady-O.

What makes you leave all your house and your land,
All your gold and your treasure for to go?
And what makes you leave your new-wedded lord
To run away with the seven yellow gypsies-O?

What care I for me house and me land?
What care I for me treasure-O?
And what care I for me new-wedded lord,
For I'm away with the seven yellow gypsies-O.

Last night you slept in a goosefeather bed
With the sheet turned down so bravely-O.
And tonight you will sleep in the cold barren shed
All along with the seven yellow gypsies-O.

What care I for me goosefeather bed
With the sheet turned down so bravely-O?
For tonight I will sleep in the cold barren shed
All along with the seven yellow gypsies-O.

There were seven yellow gypsies and all in a row,
None of them lame nor lazy-O.
And I wouldn't give a kiss from the gypsies' lips
For all of your land or your money-O.

lyrics from: http://lyrics.wikia.com/Martin_Carthy_And_Dave_Swarbrick:Seven_Yellow_Gypsies