Here's a "rule" for songwriters to consider...

Or at least a challenge.

How about we don't use the word "gyspy" as an adjective any more. It was probably getting a little tired when Jimi Hendrix and Van Morrison trotted it out every third song, but I just heard a NEW song referring to someone's "gyspy" something or other. I'd be pleased if no one ever used it again, and I'd be super-impressed if anyone ever managed to do something remotely interesting with it.

I promise to replace the word "gypsy" with "poughkeepsie" and you won't be the wiser.

If you use the proper name for east European Gypsies, Romani, it rhymes with domani, Italian for tomorrow. (Notable English language songs that use domani -- "Forget Domani," theme from the 1964 film, The Yellow Rolls-Royce. A film that is, you know, largely forgotten.)

PS... I've written a song in the last 2 years or so with the word gypsy in it. But I think it's the only time I have. Could be wrong.

In fact... the verse it's from breaks a whole buncha rules...

... and had some fun doing it.

This does not inspire any exceptions to my new "rule" .

Damn... I was convinced that the deathless phrase, my restless, aching, gypsy soul, would win you over. [Presented here with proper punctuation.]

[sigh]

That's the plural.

Band of Gypsies -> Band of Romani

Electric Gypsy -> Electric Roma

They are actually an interesting (and highly oppressed) European subculture. I think there's a great song in this quote:

Last verse from a western swing song I wrote called "Drunk on Love."

You sly little gypsy, you laced my cup.

You kissed me so tipsy, I can't stand up.

Show me the way to go home and give me a shove.

Who woulda thunk, I could get drunk

on your precious love?

I'm unpackin' my trunk

'cause, baby, I'm drunk on love.

I have no desire to use the word again, but I think I'll keep this song as is.

LCK

Yes. I like this rule. I agree with this rule. 100%.

But I really advocate any rule, to tell you the truth. That's the kind of mood I'm in. Name a rule: I'm like, there, totally. Yes indeed. This is the new standard.

What can anyone do interesting with Gypsy. That's a great challenge. Isn't the word Gypsy kinda offensive at this point? Like Jew? Isn't it? I don't know.

Towards making it original. I lean toward a play on words - that's cause my mind leans corny like that. It's gip, see?

Or maybe... Ice Chip Sea?? Let's see... I'm going to Wikipedia Gypsy...

Okay: I think the Approach to go fresh is to do the Girl-Name song route. The girl's name is Gypsy Jazz. Write a song about Gypsy Jazz. It's a bouncy song. The hook is you're getting down to Gypsy Jazz. The hook really being: You're saying you're dancing to Gypsy Jazz but what you are also saying is that you are getting busy with fine exotic girl named Gypsy Jazz. I believe it's called a Euphemism..... While Of course it's been done before. The first 100 great rock n roll songs were about {censored}ing. But this twist is you are having sex with... a Gypsy girl... named Gypsy Jazz! Oh wait... I see screwing Gypsy girls has already been covered ground.

Well at least the phrase sounds cool... Gypsy Jazz. I mean. Gypsy is a fun word to say and sing - Jazz is fun to. Put em together makes perfect sense. I bet Million bucks there's a song out there about Gypsy Jazz. That phrase is too good not to have a song based on it...

Like that a lot.

Gypsy doesn't bother me, other than that Fleetwood Mac song, I can't really remember hearing it. At least not off the top of my head.

If I was to let your rule stand I would have to add some adendums to it.

#1 No more rhyming the words "fire" and "desire" it sets my teeth on edge.

#2 No more references to the other side. As in "see you on the other side", "take me to the other side" etc. I don't know where that is.

#3 No more love lights. I mean wtf is a love light? I don't even remember what songs this is in, but it pops up enough to anoy me.

I think it is ok for people that share that heritage if that is how they choose to self identify. Gogol Bordello comes to mind.

Same way I wouldn't use nig*er.

I take that back. I could see using either it if you are telling a story and it is a piece of character dialogue, but as an adjective, in addition to being played out I think it would be as offensive to some as saying "your Jew eyes" or "your nig*er hair." This just in, that's not cool.

rules are for pussies

Gypsy is a perfectly fine word that has been abused and abused. Probably a good idea to avoid it only cause we're not great. Someone great comes along and uses it in a new way and...

...oh no! Rule breaker!!!!!!

I think Matximus is thinking of the word gyp or gip, as a synonym for cheat or swindle, which was derived from the common, outsiders term Gypsy.

It's a very different culture and anyone trying to apply the standards of other cultures to it will quickly be surprised or fooled. I had a friend some time ago who was a first generation, assimilated Roma. She was very much an "American," which is what many Romani call non-Romani in the US. But her father -- who, according to her, had 12 families he rarely saw, considered himself a king and, she said, very much lived a classic US Gypsy lifestyle.

I think the word gypsy has largely come unlinked from the Romani people, although it's clearly still caught up with romantic notions of Eurpean Gypsies. So often when we see it -- as in a few of the lyrical snips above -- it refers to a footloose, rule-breaking, free soul, not necessarily someone of Roma ethnicity.

Me... whenever I think of Gypsies, I think of Marlene Dietrich playing a Gypsy fortune teller in the wartime spy thriller, Golden Earring. Yes, that Marlene Dietrich, the tall blonde German expatriate.

I'm not suggesting getting rid of gypsy jazz, and I'd be interested in a song about actual Romani. The only book I can find on the subject, Bury Me Standing, was achingly dull the last time I tried to read it. And the term "gypsy" is more offensive than "jew", I'm pretty sure--maybe more along the lines of "Kraut" for German or "Eskimo" for Inuit.

I picked up that one too - I think my in-laws have a copy and I had some down-time during one of our visits.

I'll admit it... you guys are way too smart for me.