Lyrics & Knowledge Personal Pages Record Shop Auction Links Radio & Media Kids Membership Help
The Mudcat Cafesj



User Name Thread Name Subject Posted
Reinhard Origins: I'm a Romany Rai (8) RE: Origins: I'm a Romany Rai 07 Oct 20


It's on the Musical Traditions anthologies of Wiggy Smith, "Band of Gold", and the Willett Family, "Adieu to Old England". The first album's booklet noted:

The song was originally written for the turn-of-the-century music halls by C Bellamy and G Weeks and - unusually - has been hijacked by Travellers as a sort of an anthem. Little of the Victorian composition remains except Wiggy’s first and final stanzas - the chorus to the original.

I’m a Romani Rai (I’m a Romany Gent) (sung by Wiggy Smith) (Roud 4844)
(Recorded by Gwilym Davies at the English Country Music Weekend, Postlip Tithe Barn, Glos, 27 June, 1998)

I’m a Romani Rai, I’m a poor didikai
I live in a mansion beneath the blue sky
I live in a tent, and I don’t pay no rent
That’s the reason they call me some Romani Rai.

Now I’m roaming around the country
And this is the life that just suits me
I’m a Romani Rai, and a poor didikai
And a Romani I’ll remain.

Now I live in an old gypsy’s wagon,
With the rooftop all civvered in gold [covered]
Now I’m soon think about getting married
And having a wagon and tent of my own.

Now I’m some Romani Rai, I’m some poor didikai
I live in a mansion beneath the blue sky
And I live in a tent, and I don’t pay no rent
That’s the reason they call me a Romani Rai.

[rai - Romani for gent or lord; didikai - a person of mixed-race, Romani/Gorgio]


Post to this Thread -

Back to the Main Forum Page

By clicking on the User Name, you will requery the forum for that user. You will see everything that he or she has posted with that Mudcat name.

By clicking on the Thread Name, you will be sent to the Forum on that thread as if you selected it from the main Mudcat Forum page.

By clicking on the Subject, you will also go to the thread as if you selected it from the original Forum page, but also go directly to that particular message.

By clicking on the Date (Posted), you will dig out every message posted that day.

Try it all, you will see.