The Contemplator (Barry Taylor), Jolly Beggarman has the Irish song of this title in his website. It is well-known, and can be found at many websites under that name.
In the DT, it is titled The Beggarman's Song (Johnny Dhu). Apparently it is the same as "The Oul' Rigadoo."
Is this song traditional? Not much age is attributed to it. It is quite a stretch from this song to Child 279 (click here to search), and even to the "Gaberlunzie Man" (also in Contemplator). Apparently not in the Bodleian Collection. It is entered in the Traditional Ballad Index(cufresno) as "The Little Beggarman (Johnny Dhu)."
When "The Jolly Beggarman" is entered in Search or Filter, the Scottish "The Jolly Beggar," Child 279 (or "We'll Gang Nae Mair A Roving," from the refrain sometimes found with it) comes up. Entering -beggarman- brings up three "beggar" songs, "The Jolly Beggar" and "The Beggarman(6)," both Child, and "The Beggarman's song (Johnny Dhu)." "The Beggarman(3)" is a Dyer-Bennet revision of the Child ballad.
Sorry about this eye-glazing paragraph; just trying to get the confusion out of my mind.
Here's the Ballad Index entry.
-Joe Offer-
Little Beggarman, The (Johnny Dhu)
DESCRIPTION: "I am a little beggarman, a-begging I have been, For three score years and more in this little isle of Green...." (Johnny Dhu) briefly narrates his life, including nights in barns and a "flaxy-haired girl's" attempt to court him. He sets out on his way
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1938
KEYWORDS: rambling begging gypsy courting
FOUND IN: Ireland
REFERENCES (3 citations):
Kennedy 345, "The Little Beggarman" (1 text, 1 tune)
SHenry H751, pp. 50-51, "The Oul' Rigadoo" (1 text, 1 tune)
DT, BEGGARDH*
RECORDINGS:
Paddy Doran et al, "The Little Beggarman" (on FSB3)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Red Haired Boy" (tune)
File: K345Go to the Ballad Search form
Go to the Ballad Index InstructionsThe Ballad Index Copyright 2002 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.
THE BEGGARMAN'S SONG (JOHNNY DHU)
I am a little beggarman, a begging I have been
For three score years in this little isle of green
I'm known along the Liffey from the Basin to the Zoo
And everybody calls me by the name of Johnny Dhu
Of all the trades a going, sure the begging is the best
For when a man is tired he can sit him down and rest
He can beg for his dinner, he has nothing else to do
But to slip around the corner with his old rigadoo
I slept in a barn one night in Currabawn
A shocking wet night it was, but I slept until the dawn
There was holes in the roof and the raindrops coming thru
And the rats and the cats were a playing peek a boo
Who did I waken but the woman of the house
With her white spotted apron and her calico blouse
She began to frighten and I said boo
Sure, don't be afraid at all, it's only Johnny Dhu
I met a little girl while a walkin out one day
Good morrow little flaxen haired girl, I did say
Good morrow little beggarman and how do you do
With your rags and your tags and your auld rigadoo
I'll buy a pair of leggins and a collar and a tie
And a nice young lady I'll go courting by and by
I'll buy a pair of goggles and I'll color them with blue
And an old fashioned lady I will make her too
So all along the high road with my bag upon my back
Over the fields with my bulging heavy sack
With holes in my shoes and my toes a peeping thru
Singing, skin a ma rink a doodle with my auld rigadoo
O I must be going to bed for it's getting late at night
The fire is all raked and now tis out of light
For now you've heard the story of my auld rigadoo
So good and God be with you, from auld Johnny Dhu
@beggar @Irish
Child #279
filename[ BEGGARDH
TUNE FILE: BEGGARDH
CLICK TO PLAY
SOF
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