Lyr/Chords Add: A-Begging We Will Go

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: A-BEGGING WE WILL GO
From: chico
Date: 03 Jul 05 - 04:07 PM

         F            Bb         F            C7
  There was a jovial beggar, he had a wooden leg
   Dm            (Gm)       C7            F
  Lame from his cradle and forcéd for to beg
  
         Gm     C7      F        (C7)
  And a-begging I will go, I will go, 
  (Bb)   Gm     C7     F (C7)
  and a-begging I will go. 
  
  Of all the trades in England, a-beggin' is the best
  For when a beggar's tired, You can lay him down to rest.
  
  I got a pocket for me oatmeal, and another for me rye.
  I got a bottle by me side to drink when I am dry.
  
  I got patches on me cloak, and black patch on me knee.
  When you come to take me home, I'll drink as well as thee.
  
  I got a pocket for me ... and another for me malt
  I got a pair of little crutches, you should see how I can halt.
  
  It's underneath a bridge I live, I pay no rent
  Providence provides for me, and I am well content.
  
  I fear no plots against me. I live an open cell.
  Who would be a king then when beggars live so well.
  
  
     

Subject: RE: Chords Add: A-begging we will go
From: GUEST,Ghettoblaster
Date: 03 Jul 05 - 05:23 PM

Seemingly both different words and tune from me, albeit plainly the same song.

Subject: RE: Chords Add: A-begging we will go
From: chico
Date: 03 Jul 05 - 05:31 PM

Based on Maddy Prior's recording "Jovial beggar"

Subject: RE: Chords Add: A-begging we will go
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 03 Jul 05 - 06:21 PM

In the fourth verse, I think it's "a black patch on me e'e"--which is to say, "eye". That's as I've heard either Ewan McColl or A.L. Lloyd (can't remember which) sing it, and "black patch on my knee" makes no particular sense in giving his qualifications as a beggar.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Chords Add: A-begging we will go
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 03 Jul 05 - 06:22 PM

Oh, I see. I don't suppose she said where she got it? By appearances, it's a cut-down re-write of The Jovial Beggar, from Richard Brome's play Jovial Crew, or The Merry Beggars (revived production, 1683/4). Tune and text are in D'Urfey's Pills to Purge Melancholy (1719-20, III, 265) etc.

Broadside editions at  Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads:

The beggars chorus, in the Jovial Crew


All that "me" business is unnecessary, really; Maddy isn't a traditional singer, so there's no need to try to reflect her pronounciation as if it had some ethnographic value. The word is "my", however she pronounces it.

Subject: RE: Chords Add: A-begging we will go
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 03 Jul 05 - 06:37 PM

Cross-posted again. I hadn't seen Dave's comments. The patch doesn't appear in early forms, I think; but there are plenty of examples found in oral currency, many in Scotland; so that would make sense.

Subject: RE: Chords Add: A-begging we will go
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 03 Jul 05 - 06:49 PM

Black patch (or any colour really) makes perfect sense when you consider his CLOTHING.

Subject: RE: Chords Add: A-begging we will go
From: DonMeixner
Date: 03 Jul 05 - 07:09 PM

With the exception of the first verse and few other differences this
is the way I learned the song from a Paul McNeill recording done live at the Troubadour many years ago.

I've only ever heard it accapella. It is interesting to see the chords up front for the song.

Don

Subject: RE: Chords Add: A-begging we will go
From: chico
Date: 03 Jul 05 - 07:34 PM

redone all but the parenthesis are original broadside:

  The beggars chorus in the JOVIAL CREW. Based on A Jovial Crew, 
  
  or, The Merry Beggars (1641). Imprimis 1683.
  
         F            Bb         F            C7
  There was a jovial beggar, he had a wooden legg
   Dm            (Gm)       C7            F
  Lame from his cradle and forcéd for to beg
  
         Gm     C7      F        (C7)
  And a-begging I will go, I will go, 
  (Bb)   Gm     C7     F (C7)
  and a-begging I will go. 
  
  A bag for my oatmeal, and another for my rye.
  A little bottle by my side to drink when I am a dry.
  
  A bag for my wheat, and another for my salt
  A little pair of crutches, to see how I can halt
  
  To pimlicoe wee'l go where merry we shall be
  And ev'ry man with a can in's hand and a wench upon his knee
  
  And when that we're disposed, we tumble on the grass
  With long patch'd coates, for to a hide a pretty lass
  
  Seaven years I served, my old master's wild
  Seaven years I begged, whilst I was but a child
  
  I had the pretty knack, for to wheedle and to cry
  By young and by old, much pittyed e're was I
  
  Fatherless and motherless, still was my complaint
  And none that ever saw me but took me for a saint
  
  I begg'd or my master and got him store of pelf
  But Jove now be praised I do beg for my self
  
  Within a hollow tree, I live and pay no rent
  Providence provides for me and I am well content
  
  I fear no plots against me, but live in open cell.
  Why who would be a king when a beggar lives so well.
  
  [Of all the trades in England, a-beggin' is the best
  For when a beggar's tired, You can lay him down to rest.]

Subject: RE: Chords Add: A-begging we will go
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 03 Jul 05 - 08:05 PM

We have a version of the Beggar's Chorus here

It is in D not F and I can't make the chords supplied here fit in my mind (haven't tried a guitar) to the tune we have.

I don't want to be miserable but I still can't see just supplying "the chords". They need marrying to a tune and preferably additional information even if it is only "this is my arrangement in F"

Subject: Lyr Add: A-BEGGING WE WILL GO
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 21 May 10 - 06:56 PM

From Ancient Poems, Ballads and Songs of the Peasantry of England by Robert Bell (London: John W. Parker and Son, 1857), page 251:

A BEGGING WE WILL GO.

THE authorship of this song is attributed to Richard Brome—(he who once 'performed a servant's faithful part' for Ben Jonson)—in a black-letter copy in the Bagford Collection, where it is entitled The Beggars' Chorus in the 'Jovial Crew,' to an excellent new tune. No such chorus, however, appears in the play, which was produced at the Cock-pit in 1641; and the probability is, as Mr. Chappell conjectures, that it was only interpolated in the performance. It is sometimes called The Jovial Beggar. The tune has been from time to time introduced into several ballad operas; and the song, says Mr. Chappell, who publishes the air in his Popular Music, 'is the prototype of many others, such as A bowling we will go, A fishing we will go, A hawking we will go, and A hunting we will go. The last named is still popular with those who take delight in hunting, and the air is now scarcely known by any other title.'

1. There was a jovial beggar; he had a wooden leg,
Lame from his cradle, and forced for to beg.

CHORUS: And a begging we will go, we'll go, we'll go;
And a begging we will go!

2. A bag for his oatmeal, another for his salt;
And a pair of crutches, to show that he can halt.

3. A bag for his wheat, another for his rye;
A little bottle by his side, to drink when he's a-dry.

4. Seven years I begged for my old Master Wild,
He taught me to beg when I was but a child.

5. I begged for my master, and got him store of pelf;
But now, Jove be praised! I'm begging for myself.

6. In a hollow tree I live, and pay no rent;
Providence provides for me, and I am well content.

7. Of all the occupations, a beggar's life's the best;
For whene'er he's weary, he'll lay him down and rest.

8. I fear no plots against me; I live in open cell;
Then who would be a king when beggars live so well?

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BEGGAR'S CHORUS
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 22 May 10 - 12:50 AM

From the Bodleian Library ballads collection, Vet. A3 b.43(1v); Douce Ballads 1(17a) is nearly identical:


The Beggars
CHORUS,
In the Jovial Crew.
To an Excellent New Tune.

[1] There was a jovial Beggar, he had a wooden Leg;
Lame from his Cradle, and forcéd for to Beg.

[CHORUS] And a Begging we will go, we'll go, we'll go,
And a Begging we will go.

[2] A Bag for my Oat-meal, another for my Salt,
A little pair of Crutches to see how I can halt. And a Begging, &c.

[3] A Bag for my Bread, another for my Cheese,
A little Dog to follow me to gather what I leese. [or "leefe"?] And a Begging, &c.

[4] A Bag for my Wheat, another for my Rye,
A little Bottle by my side to drink when I'm adry. And a Begging, &c.

[5] To Pimlico we'll go, where merry we shall be,
With ev'ry Man a Can in's Hand, and a Wench upon his Knee. And a Begging, &c.

[6] And when that we are disposéd, we tumble on the Grass,
With long patch'd Coats for to hide a pretty Lass. And a Begging, &c.

[7] Seven Years I servéd my old Master Wild;
Seven Years I beggéd, whilst I was but a Child. And a Begging, &c.

[8] I had the pretty knack for to wheedle and to cry;
By young and by old, much pitied e'er was I. And a Begging, &c.

[9] Fatherless and Motherless still was my Complaint,
And none that ever saw me, but took me for a Saint. And a Begging, &c.

[10] I begg'd for my Master, and got him store of Pelf;
But Jove now be praiséd, I now beg for my self. And a Begging, &c.

[11] Within a hollow Tree I live, and pay no Rent;
Providence provides for me, and I am well content. And a Begging, &c.

[12] Of all Occupations a Beggar lives the best;
For when he is a weary he'll lie him down and rest. And a Begging, &c.

[13] I fear no Plots against me, but live in open Cell;
Why who wou'd be a King, when a Beggar lives so well? And a Begging, &c.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: A-Begging We Will Go
From: CapriUni
Date: 23 Oct 11 - 02:01 PM

What's a "pelf"?

And I must say -- those verses about begging for a master, versus begging for yourself reminds me of all the modern-day children's charities, where more energy goes into producing glitzy broadcast telethons and promoting the promise of "A CURE -- Someday!" and far less going into making life better for the disenfranchised now.

The term for this, in the Disability Community, 300 years on, is: "pity porn."

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: A-Begging We Will Go
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 23 Oct 11 - 03:34 PM

pelf = money, goods, gear. The implications changed at various times. Early on it meant spoils, later it could mean money as in filthy-lucre. Later just money. Partridge gives the slang meaning as ill-gotten gains.

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: A-Begging We Will Go
From: CapriUni
Date: 23 Oct 11 - 11:09 PM

Aha! Thanks. ...Is that where we get the word "pilfer"?

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: A-Begging We Will Go
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 24 Oct 11 - 06:34 AM

OED says the roots of the verb pilfer and noun pelf are related via Anglo-French, OldFrench pelfrer=to pillage, rob and Anglo-Latin pelfrare. There is also an obsolete noun pilfer, meaning that which was pilfered.

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: A-Begging We Will Go
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 24 Oct 11 - 06:59 AM

This is not for the same melody as Martin Carthy uses is it?

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: A-Begging We Will Go
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 24 Oct 11 - 07:33 AM

Guilty of thread drift a wee bit, but there's also Robert Burns' "Jolly Beggars Cantata": see:

http://www.robertburns.org/works/79.shtml
and http://www.robertburns.org/encyclopedia/JollyBeggarsThe.481.shtml

and the song "Tae the beggin' I will Go" - here performed by OldB lind Dogs with Jim Malcolm on lead vocals: click on "more" to see the lyrics (if ye cannae follae the braid Scots!).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5biSoW1926I

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: A-Begging We Will Go
From: CapriUni
Date: 25 Oct 11 - 03:15 PM

Am working up an entry on this, for my blog Plato's Nightmare / Aesop's Dream*

So this line snagged my interest, just now:

"And a little dog to follow me, and gather what I lief..."

So, perhaps, the idea of service dogs are not as new as some might think...

*For discussion images of Disability in in Folklore, and Classic, pre-WW1, Lit., and how the images reflect or distort actual lived experienced by disabled people

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: A-Begging We Will Go
From: Tootler
Date: 30 May 12 - 03:58 PM

I agree with guest Jon of 03 Jul 05 - 08:05 PM about the chords given.

I use the same tune he linked to at folkinfo.org but transposed down a tone to C (otherwise goes too high). It's also the tune used by Maddy Prior on "Hang up Sorrow and Care" which is presumably the album the OP got it from.

It's a cheerful major key tune and all those minor chords seem to me out of keeping with the character of the tune.

The chords I use are:

There [C] was a jovial Beggar, he had a wooden [G] Leg;
[C] Lame from his Cradle, and [G7] forcéd for to [C] Beg.

And [G] a Begging we will [C] go, we'll go, we'll go,
And [F] a Begging [G7] we will [C] go.

My version here

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: A-Begging We Will Go
From: GUEST,sciencegeek
Date: 31 May 12 - 03:49 PM

a grand song & fun to sing... I think it was on Ewan MacColl's Manchester Angel- Topic LP. has that been released on CD yet?

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: A-Begging We Will Go from MacC
From: GUEST,Jim C Tree
Date: 12 Sep 14 - 01:23 PM

Of all the trades in old England, the begging is the best
For when a beggar's tired, he can sit him down & rest

And to a begging I will go, to the begging I will go

There's a poke for me oatmeal, & another for me salt
I've a pair of little crutches, 'tha should see how I can hault

& a -

There's patches on me fusticoat, there's a black patch on me 'ee
But when it comes to tuppenny ale, I can see as well as thee

My britches, they are no but holes, but my heart is free from care
As long as I've a bellyfull, my backside can go bare

There's a bed for me where 'ere I like, & I don't pay no rent
I've got no noisy looms to mind, & I am right content

I can rest when I am tired & I heed no master's bell
A man ud be daft to be a king, when beggars live so well

Oh, I've been deef at Dokenfield, & I've been blind at Shaw
And many the right & willing lass I've bedded in the straw

Subject: ADD: A-Begging I Will Go (Grit Laskin)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 May 21 - 01:26 AM

Elizabeth Block sent this parody from Grit Laskin

A-BEGGING I WILL GO
(Grit Laskin)

On Wednesday night I had a job, on Thursday I had none
Now I pound the pavements to the rhythm of this song
    And a begging I will go
    And a begging I will go

I go past the office towers of Wall Street, Fleet, and Bay
The windows there are sealed to tight for them to hear me say
    And a begging I will go
    And a begging I will go

'Twas them that said to Parliament, Free trade's the way to go
And weren't they right, our jobs are going, gone to Mexico
    And a begging I will go
    And a begging I will go

I rush past the smart cafes where once I used to dine
I'm heading for the food bank, have to get my place in line
    And a begging I will go
    And a begging I will go

There's some of us sleep in the gutter and learn to bide with shame
Though I've still got a roof as yet, I'm beggared just the same
    And a begging I will go
    And a begging I will go

I wonder now what's to come as free trade takes its toll
When there are factories on the moon, will Earth be on the dole?
    And a begging I will go
    And a begging I will go

On Wednesday night I had a job, on Thursday I had none
Now I pound the pavements to the rhythm of this song
    And a begging I will go
    And a begging I will go

Words: Grit Laskin
Tune: Traditional

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: A-Begging We Will Go
From: Brian Peters
Date: 25 May 21 - 07:02 AM

From a quick listen, it sounds like Maddy Prior has used the version recorded from Beckett Whitehead of Delph, with several verses added. MacColl's version is also probably derived from Whitehead (allegedly the source for 'Four Loom Weaver' as well), but the modal tune and some of the verses are clearly MacColl's. There's nothing about Dukinfield, looms or bedding lasses in the straw in Beckett's song nor, I suspect, in any other version.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: A-Begging We Will Go
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 25 May 21 - 11:05 AM


And a Begging I Will Go (feat. Dave Swarbrick) · Martin Carthy    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hutHGHRr8_w

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: A-Begging We Will Go
From: GUEST,Beachcomber
Date: 25 May 21 - 11:13 AM

Didn't the version recorded by Ian Campbell and his group hang together particularly well ?

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: A-Begging We Will Go
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 25 May 21 - 11:16 AM


A Begging I Will Go · The Virginia Company   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpaB4Wurg_A
Ewan MacColl - To the Beggin' I Will Go  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jySVGW6NbmA
A-begging I Will Go · Bob Davenport  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0Wv4S1mw9M

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: A-Begging We Will Go
From: Brian Peters
Date: 25 May 21 - 12:03 PM

That's a good version by Bob Davenport, Geoff - I wonder where he got it from? It's certainly not MacColl's.

Interesting that an 18th century re-enactment band should use the tune written in the 1960s...