highwaymen, gypsy rover november 1961 stereo

the gypsy rover or sometimes known as the whistling gypsy is a traditional folk song composed by the irish song writer leo maguire in the early fifties and was first recorded by the irish singer Joe Lynch in 1952 to be followed by a version by rose brennan in 1953.
since then, a hoast of other artists have coverred this song including the highwaymen, the seekers and the brothers four to name a few.
the abbreviated version released by the highwaymen tells the story of a lady who left all her riches and comfort to follow a whistling gypsy who in fact turned up to be lord of the lands. their version reached 42 on the hot 100, 12 on the country charts and 41 inn the u.k.
the song appears on the b side of their single with cotton fields on its a side.
not to be confused with the country super group, the highwaymen is an american folk quintette formed by dave fisher and his wesleyan college friends when they were freshmen at university.
the original quintette were made up of the following members:
Dave Fisher born July 19, 1940 died May 7, 2010)[3]
Bob Burnett born February 7, 1940, Providence, Rhode Island died December 7, 2011
Steve Butts
Chan Daniels born 1939 died August 2, 1975, aged 36)
Steve Trott (born Stephen S. Trott, December 12, 1939, Glen Ridge, New Jersey)
two additional mmembers joined the quintette namely gil robbins (father of actor tim Robbins) in 1962 when steve trott left to enter harvard law school, and guitarest johan helton inn 1991 when the band reunited in 1987 after having disbanded in 1964 when they left to pursue their further studies.

only dave fisher remained in the music business after 1964.
their foremost hit is michael row the boat ashore which peaked at number 1 on the billboard hot 100 and in the u.k. and 4 in germany in 1961 having sold over a million records thus acquiring gold status.
there other hits include cotton fields which peaked at 20 on the hot 100, candy rock mountain, cyndi oh cyndi, the bird man and whisky in the jar.
abbreviated lyrics highwaymen
The gypsy rover came over the hill
Down through the valley so shady
He whistled and he sang 'til the green woods rang
And he won the heart of a lady
Auh-de-doo-auh-de-doo-dah-day
Auh-de-doo-auh-de-day-dee
He whistled and he sang 'til the green woods rang
And he won the heart of a lady

She left her father's castle gate
She left her own true lover
She left her family and her estate
To follow her gypsy rover

Auh-de-doo-auh-de-doo-dah-day
Auh-de-doo-auh-de-day-dee
He whistled and he sang 'til the green woods rang
And he won the heart of a lady

He is no gypsy my father she said
But Lord of these lands all over
And here I'll stay 'til my dying day
With my whistling gypsy rover

Auh-de-doo-auh-de-doo-dah-day
Auh-de-doo-auh-de-day-dee
He whistled and he sang 'til the green woods rang
And he won the heart of a lady

Auh-de-doo-auh-de-doo-dah-day
Auh-de-doo-auh-de-day-dee
He whistled and he sang 'til the green woods rang
And he won the heart of a lady...
song writer leo maguire