Ruminants Are Funny

I feel the need to complete the Bob Dylan/Traditional by way of Taj Mahal set, so here are the lyrics to Blackjack Davey.

Blackjack Davey come riding through the woods,
Singin' up a song so gay.
Well, he played and he sang, 'til the green woods rang,
He charmed the heart of a lady,
He charmed the heart of a lady, ooh,
He charmed the heart of a lady.

"Won't you come along and be my pretty little missy?
Won't you come along and be my lady?"
She said, "Ooh, you know it's right, I'm'a sleep on the ground tonight,
With my man Blackjack Davey.
With my man Blackjack, Blackjack Dave.
With my man Blackjack, Blackjack Davey."

"Tell me now, who gonna shoe your pretty little feet, now?
Who gonna glove your hands?
Who gonna kiss your ruby red lips,
While I'm in a long-distant land?
Honey, while I'm in a long-distant land.
While I'm in a long-distant land."

She said, "Papa gonna shoe my pretty little feet, now.
Sister gonna glove my hands.
Mama gonna kiss my ruby red lips,
And I'll want no man.
While you in a long-distant land.
Honey, while you in a long-distant land."

Flute, flute...

(Here there's an excellent flute solo.)

Blackjack Davey come riding through the woods,
Singin' up a song so gay.
Well, he played and he sang, 'til the green woods rang,
He charmed the heart of a lady,
He charmed the heart of a lady,
He charmed the heart of a lady.

What did he do?
He soothed her with his music,
Soothed her with his song,
Sung 'til she was nearly crazy.
She said, "Ooh, it's right, you know I'm'a sleep on the ground tonight
With my man Blackjack Davey.
With my man Blackjack, Blackjack Davey.
With my man Blackjack, Blackjack Davey.

Blackjack Davey come riding through the woods,
Singin' up a song so gay.
Well, he played and he sang, 'til the green woods rang,
He charmed the heart of a lady,
He charmed the heart of a lady,
He charmed the heart of a lady.

(And then there's a vocal improvisation, and a long flute solo to the end.)

In the interest of full disclosure, I'll point out that the cut I was listening to was from a live concert on October 18, 1974. The lyrics for others may be slightly different, as may the configuration of the backup band; perhaps the best rendition I have in my collection is from 2002, with a power trio of bass, drums, and Taj's guitar and vocals.

Good times.