Listen here to hear Crow talking this post for you.. .**
My mother was a free spirit. Each April she would put together her “gypsy wagon,” toss in a few things and take off. Destinations unknown and return date not specified. Even my grandfather said my mom and I were gypsies (“Roma” to be more polite and culturally sensitive).
It’s not that surprising that I became a traveling musician for much of my life. As a storytelling songwriter, I had this song “spill out” practically finished, with internal rhyme and all.
Michael Johnson recorded it in 1975 on his early album. I put it on my first solo album in 1980, recorded with voice, banjo, and windchimes from my privy. The two versions are fun to compare. I’ll see if I can include links to each of them for you.
Here are the lyrics…
The Gypsy in the Photograph by Crow Johnson (ASAP)
The gypsy in the photograph
Has a laugh you’ve seen before
Some nights you’d give anything
Just to bring her/him to your door
Well the old ones say that your mama strayed
But nobody’s talkin’ ’bout the beds she made
You could hear her laugh on a sunny day
Comin’ down the road with a gypsy blade
Looking through a dusty trunk, amid the junk you found an album
Though you never knew her well, you could tell she loved her fun
Well the old ones say that your mama strayed
But nobody’s talkin’ ’bout the beds she made
You could hear her laugh on a sunny day
Comin’ down the road with a gypsy blade
In a dream you dreamed there was something very strange
And you woke up quickly but you still could hear the names
Magpie, evil eye
You won’t take, you won’t take
You won’t take this one’s life
Grandma said when you were born
That the ram’s horn filled the glade
The damp night and your mama’s cries
Made your eyes a darker shade
Well the old ones say that your mama strayed
But nobody’s talkin’ ’bout the beds she made
You could hear her laugh on a sunny day
Comin’ down the road with a gypsy blade
Then a golden charm that she gave to you one night
What was it that she softly cried when you were out of sight
Oh Magpie, evil eye
You won’t take, you won’t take, you won’t take this one
You won’t take, you won’t take, you won’t take this one
You won’t take, you won’t take
You won’t take this one’s life
The gypsy in the photograph
Has a laugh you’ve seen before
Here’s my original recording from 1980… enjoy.
Michael was such an exquisite singer and guitarist. Here’s his version live from a concert in 1984 at U of WA.
Was that fun for you? It’s a bit like two different photographs taken of the same moment in time. The same but different. I love how a song that “fits” an artist becomes a garment he/she can wear comfortably and carry to others’ ears.
I really loved listening to your outhouse recording of this song. The clarity of your banjo, the achingly beautiful quality of your voice. For me, this version was perfection. No way to improve it. Thanks for the comparison and for sharing.
Don, Thank you so much. It’s fun for me to look back and listen back.
This made me smile for so many reasons. This was my first introduction to your songwriting. Do you know how Michael often introduced this song at his concerts? He’d say this song was written by my sister-in-law. She was little Amy Goodenough (sp?), married my brother, became Crow Johnson and started writing songs that frighten small children! It always got a chuckle from the audience. I was in attendance at so many of his concerts over the years that I knew his schtick as well as he did! This was how I knew you were my kind of person way back in the day. Thanks for posting this sweet reminder of Michael. I miss him so much.
Teri, I love the story you shared. I can imagine Michael saying that with convincing humor each time. Among his many gifts he had a clear present tense.
I remember you playing this at “The Working Class Hero” and other venues around Fayetteville, AR. My 5 year old daughter loved your music, as did I.We had 2 of your albums and 2 of Michael’s as well. Yes I enjoyed this.
Carole, what a great story. Thank you for telling me about it. The Working Class Hero was the first place to hire me as a solo. Oh the nights and joy in that place.