Other people’s songs episode 67: Bob Dylan and Blackjack Davey

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Details of our current series and a link to the latest article in each series can be found on the home page.   A list of all the articles in this “Other people’s songs” series is at the foot of this piece.

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Other people’s songs: Blackjack Davey by Aaron Galbraith and Tony Attwood

Aaron: In this ballad, a lady abandons her husband and children to go with the gypsy. She is pursued by her husband, but refuses to return home, preferring the life with her new found love.

Child considered this ballad to be historically based on the expulsion of the gypsies from Scotland in 1609, and the hanging of a prominent gypsy, Johnny Faa, for returning to or failing to leave Scotland. There is no account, however, of any expelled gypsy taking a great lady.

Here is what I believe to be the first recorded version by John Jacob Niles from 1938 where it is known as The Gipsy Laddie.

Tony: That is an amazing recording which I’ve not heard before.  Utterly extraordinary – normally I restrict myself to listening to each recording just the once as I write about it but this time I’ve listened twice.  It is quite extraordinary in terms of the range of the vocalist.

Aaron: The following year the Carlisle Brothers upped the tempo for the 1939 single Black Jack David

Tony: I think it is always good to be reminded that the tradition of re-writing and re-arranging songs goes right back through the history of folk music.  There are still people who occasionally criticise Bob Dylan for “taking” other people’s songs, or traditional songs and re-creating them, but he is just continuing the long-standing tradition of folk music.   This is another really good fun version of the song.  I’m really enjoying this…

Aaron: Bob’s version was included on his 1992 album Good as I Been to You.

Tony: Bob puts a big emphasis on the end of each line not least by playing the whole piece in the minor key ending the first line on a minor chord instead of a major as often happens – and indeed as we heard in the first two versions above.

Aaron: The White Stripes version appears as the B-side of the 7 Nation Army single in 2003…

Tony: I loved these White Stripes recordings from this era; this whole notion of the pounding percussion of Meg and that unique guitar approach of Jack.  Thanks for reminding of it.  Time to get all the recordings out again; what an amazing sound that duet made.

Aaron: This year Van Morrison included it on his latest album Moving on Skiffle

Tony: The trouble is that for me after hearing the Stripes again nothing is going to compare.   There’s nothing wrong with Van Morrison’s version, but it just sounds rather tame after the Stripes.  As would anything.

But I am going to subvert the show somewhat by taking the name of this article and link to the wonderful Backjack Gypsies.   I loved their inventiveness and power.  Rick  Becksted passed away earlier this year and their site has a tribute to him at the moment.  I know I’m stretching the links between Aaron’s starting point, but then in a real sense that has always been part of the series.  Hope you enjoy this final piece and the band if you don’t know their work.

Other people’s songs…

1. Other people’s songs. How Dylan covers the work of other composers
2. Other People’s songs: Bob and others perform “Froggie went a courtin”
3. Other people’s songs: They killed him
4. Other people’s songs: Frankie & Albert
5. Other people’s songs: Tomorrow Night where the music is always everything
6. Other people’s songs: from Stack a Lee to Stagger Lee and Hugh Laurie
7. Other people’s songs: Love Henry
8. Other people’s songs: Rank Stranger To Me
9. Other people’s songs: Man of Constant Sorrow
10. Other people’s songs: Satisfied Mind
11. Other people’s songs: See that my grave is kept clean
12. Other people’s songs: Precious moments and some extras
13. Other people’s songs: You go to my head
14. Other people’s songs: What’ll I do?
15. Other people’s songs: Copper Kettle
16. Other people’s songs: Belle Isle
17. Other people’s songs: Fixing to Die
18. Other people’s songs: When did you leave heaven?
19. Other people’s songs: Sally Sue Brown
20. Other people’s songs: Ninety miles an hour down a dead end street
21. Other people’s songs: Step it up and Go
22. Other people’s songs: Canadee-I-O
23. Other people’s songs: Arthur McBride
24. Other people’s songs: Little Sadie
25. Other people’s songs: Blue Moon, and North London Forever
26. Other people’s songs: Hard times come again no more
27. Other people’s songs: You’re no good
28. Other people’s songs: Lone Pilgrim (and more Crooked Still)
29. Other people’s songs: Blood in my eyes
30. Other people’s songs: I forgot more than you’ll ever know
31.  Other people’s songs: Let’s stick (or maybe work) together.
32. Other people’s songs: Highway 51
33. Other people’s songs: Jim Jones
34. Other people’s songs: Let’s stick (or maybe work) together.
35. Other people’s songs: Jim Jones
36. Other people’s songs: Highway 51 Blues
37. Other people’s songs: Freight Train Blues
38. Other People’s Songs: The Little Drummer Boy
39. Other People’s Songs: Must be Santa
40. Other People’s songs: The Christmas Song
41. Other People’s songs: Corina Corina
42. Other People’s Songs: Mr Bojangles
43. Other People’s Songs: It hurts me too
44. Other people’s songs: Take a message to Mary
45. Other people’s songs: House of the Rising Sun
46. Other people’s songs: “Days of 49”
47. Other people’s songs: In my time of dying
48. Other people’s songs: Pretty Peggy O
49. Other people’s songs: Baby Let me Follow You Down
50. Other people’s songs: Gospel Plow
51. Other People’s Songs: Melancholy Mood
52. Other people’s songs: The Boxer and Big Yellow Taxi
53. Other people’s songs: Early morning rain
54. Other people’s Songs: Gotta Travel On
55. Other people’s songs: “Can’t help falling in love”
56. Other people’s songs: Lily of the West
57. Other people’s songs: Alberta
58. Other people’s songs: Little Maggie
59. Other people’s songs: Sitting on top of the world
60. Dylan’s take on “Let it be me”
61. Other people’s songs: From “Take me as I am” all the way to “Baker Street”
62. Other people’s songs: A fool such as I
63. Other people’s songs: Sarah Jane and the rhythmic changes
64. Other people’s songs: Spanish is the loving tongue. Author drawn to tears
65. Other people’s songs: The ballad of Ira Hayes
66. Other people’s songs: The usual