Lyr Req: The Red Haired Boy^^^

Subject: Are there lyrics to 'The Red Haired Boy'
From: Wesley S
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 01:43 PM

I could swear that many years ago I heard someone sing words to the tune of "The Red Haired Boy" but I can't find them anywhere that I've looked so far. I hear the song at Irish sessions and have it on a couple of CD's but the lyrics { IF they exist } have eluded me so far. Does anyone know if this is just a figment of my imagination? Thanks - Wesley

PS - I'm trying to find these for MY red haired boy Brendan who's almost 1 year old now and in the process of cutting teeth. He loves the tune and dances whenever I play it.

Subject: RE: Are there lyrics to 'The Red Haired Boy'
From: Kim C
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 01:47 PM

Hi Wes --- I think when it's played as an instrumental it's called the Red Haired Boy, and when it's sung it's called Johnnie Dhu, or Little Johnny Dhu, or something like that. It's all about the virtues of being a beggarman. ;-) I searched the DT and didn't find anything - maybe someone else knows?

Subject: RE: Are there lyrics to 'The Red Haired Boy'
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 01:58 PM

Hi - the lyrics are here at the Digital Tradition: The Beggarman's Song (Johnny Dhu). Things come up most easily if you put a distinctive phrase from the song in the "Digitrad and Forum Search" (which was down the last few days, but it back up). There is a related thread here (click)
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Are there lyrics to 'The Red Haired Boy'
From: Wesley S
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 01:58 PM

That would make sense - I remember the words little beggarman but that's about it.

Subject: RE: Are there lyrics to 'The Red Haired Boy'^^^
From: Kim C
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 02:11 PM

Now see, goshdarnit, I searched for Johnny and I searched for Little and I didn't bother to look for Beggarman! Oh well....... ;-) I actually have a recording of the ORIGINAL Dixie Chicks doing this song, if you can believe that.

Subject: RE: Are there lyrics to 'The Red Haired Boy'^^^
From: Gary T
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 02:18 PM

I've always heard it called "The Little Beggarman." It goes by that title in various books and recordings I'm aware of, which might be helpful to know if you look for it elsewhere.

Why the instrumental is called "The Red Haired Boy" escapes me. I've never heard any lyrics that relate to that title.

Subject: RE: Are there lyrics to 'The Red Haired Boy'^^^
From: PeteBoom
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 02:35 PM

And of course, the Scottish variants (or are they original and the Irish the variants?) "Roving Journeyman", "Jolly Beggarman" and three or four others.

Subject: RE: Are there lyrics to 'The Red Haired Boy'^^^
From: Steve in Idaho
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 02:45 PM

And sung to speed will make your lips curl!!

Steve

Subject: RE: Are there lyrics to 'The Red Haired Boy'^^^
From: RangerSteve
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 02:49 PM

I also heard it called "Once there Was a Soldier and He Had a Wooden Leg". The title fits the melody, so I guess there are words to it. Does anyone know them?

Subject: RE: Are there lyrics to 'The Red Haired Boy'^^^
From: Blackcatter
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 02:49 PM

One of my favorite songs, and sung at speed is the ONLY WAY! ;)

But if you think that's a tough one - try Mary Mack at speed...

pax yall

Subject: RE: Are there lyrics to 'The Red Haired Boy'^^^
From: GUEST,Steve Latimer
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 03:12 PM

Arlo Guthrie did Little Beggarman on his "One Night" CD, which also has the epic classic "The Story of Reuben Clamso and His Daughter In The Key of A". I have it on Cassette and can't find it. It's driving me nuts.

Subject: RE: Are there lyrics to 'The Red Haired Boy'^^^
From: Wesley S
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 04:01 PM

Thanks a bunch folks - I appreciate all the info.

Subject: RE: Are there lyrics to 'The Red Haired Boy'^^^
From: masato sakurai
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 08:47 PM

For more info, go to The Fiddler's Companion, Folk Music Index, and The Traditional Ballad Index.
~Masato

Subject: RE: Are there lyrics to 'The Red Haired Boy'^^^
From: Coyote Breath
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 11:36 PM

Kim C that original Dixie Chicks song intrigues me how could I get a copy of it? So far I have heard The Little Beggerman Reel (as I know it) sung by Mike Heinz when he and Debbie McClatchy used to play on the Streets of San Francisco. I'm barely able to sing it and play the banjo at the same time (it is a real nice clawhammer piece) cause I get "out of phase with the phrasing". I haven't heard Mike sing it for decades and I need to hear it again and more than once.

Subject: RE: Are there lyrics to 'The Red Haired Boy'^^^
From: Kaleea
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 01:08 AM

The beggar was believed to have typically Irish red hair --thus: red haired boy. Having been raised in traditional Irish music, I heard the song only sometimes sung at the speed of light a la Danny Kaye fashion (pubs where the singers are thoroughly pissed or as some say, rather well oiled). Otherwise, sung at a tempo which others can understand the lyrics and join in.

Subject: RE: Are there lyrics to 'The Red Haired Boy'^^^
From: Blackcatter
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 01:29 AM

When I perform it, I sing it fairly slowly the first time through, because it has a wonderful rhythm to it, and then I crank up the speed and let them have it - I can do it easily - all 4 verses - with 4 breaths and in under a minute. I can sing it faster, but about 56 seconds long still allows people to hear it pretty well. My record is 39 seconds.

pax yall

Subject: RE: Are there lyrics to 'The Red Haired Boy'^^^
From: Turtle
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 02:00 PM

Kim,

I used to have a tape of that Chicks recording that someone made for me, but it has long since bit the dust and I haven't been able to find the original cd to purchase it. What do you mean when you say "the original Dixie Chicks"? Do you have any idea whether that recording is still available? I've looked on-line etc. and haven't been able to find it in the Chicks' discography or for sale. Any information you have (like even the name of the album!) would be great!

Thanks,

Turtle

Subject: RE: Are there lyrics to 'The Red Haired Boy'^^^
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 02:21 PM

I haven't a clue as what just happened but I did not finish my sentence. Try again. Not sure what Kim C. had in mind regarding the original Dixie Chicks, but the Irwin sisters had a bluegrass band before striking gold with the Chicks. Red Haired Boy is certainly something they would have done.

Subject: RE: Are there lyrics to 'The Red Haired Boy'^^^
From: Gary T
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 02:27 PM

As to the original Dixie Chicks, Kim can answer, but I figured she meant Robin, Emily, and Marty (plus possibly a 4th by the time they cut a recording). There have been at least two other transient members over the years besides those three founders.

Robin left the Chicks and now leads Big Twang, Natalie joined the sisters (Emily and Marty) and now they're on the country music charts. They're a long way--musically, economically, and geographically--from what they were originally.

As to availability of their early recordings, I'm sorry I don't know. I saw them at Winfield, where the artists brought LP's and tapes to sell after their sets. At that time they might not have produced large quantities to sell in stores.

Subject: RE: Are there lyrics to 'The Red Haired Boy'^^^
From: Turtle
Date: 29 Nov 01 - 03:06 PM

Thanks for the info, Gary and Arkie. Maybe Kim has the album title if she's still around, and I could check in from there. I agree, the tape I had was a far cry from the recent Dixie Chicks stuff--less country and more old-timey--and I loved it! It had another song on it called "Pink Toenails" that cracked me up every time...and I remember liking the rest of what was on the album even though now of course I can't recall it all.

Subject: RE: Are there lyrics to 'The Red Haired Boy'^^^
From: GUEST,Jan
Date: 20 Oct 02 - 06:34 PM

Wesley, If you are still there, send me an e-mail. This weekend, I asked around at and old-time music camp, because I, too, have a red-haired boy. If you still want the lyrics, I will post them here or send them to you. I am at [e-mail], and I might not check this thread again, so you should e-mail me rather than reply to this board. Jan.

Subject: RE: Are there lyrics to 'The Red Haired Boy'^^^
From: open mike
Date: 21 Oct 02 - 04:07 AM

ilike the part where there is irish scat-
skin-a-ma-rink-a-doodle and the old rig-a-doo
or how does that go now???

Subject: RE: Are there lyrics to 'The Red Haired Boy'^^^
From: belfast
Date: 21 Oct 02 - 08:55 AM

There is another excellent song which uses this tune. I know as the The Jolly Collier but in the didgtrad it's listed as Down in the Coalmine. It was recorded by the Ian Campbell Folk Group when Dave Swarbrick played fiddle them.

Subject: RE: Are there lyrics to 'The Red Haired Boy'^^^
From: Kim C
Date: 21 Oct 02 - 03:32 PM

Okay, I am a year late responding here.... I didn't read the thread anymore after my last post so I didn't see the questions about the Dixie Chicks! But Gary T is right.... there was Laura Lynch (who had a standup bass shaped like a cactus), Robin Macy, and Emily and Martie. Robin left, then Laura. The sisters regrouped with Natalie and put forth a whole different sound.

The two original albums were called Thank Heavens for Dale Evans and Little Ol' Cowgirl. They're out of print but you might be able to buy them used somewheres.

There Was an Old Soldier and He Had a Wooden Leg is a whole different song, I think... I know one with those words, but it's a way different melody.

Subject: Lyr Add: LITTLE BEGGARMAN
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 21 Oct 02 - 10:16 PM

Here's some info, mostly from Ceolas:

Traditional Irish (originally), Scottish, English; Air or Hornpipe: American, Canadian; Reel or Breakdown. A Mixolydian. Standard. AABB (most versions): AA'BB' (Moylan). 'Red Haired Boy' is the English translation of the Gaelic title "Giolla Rua".

CATEGORY: Fiddle and Instrumental Tunes.

DATE: Bunting's 1840 A Collection of the Ancient Music of Ireland

RECORDING INFO: Austen, Seth. Appalachian Fiddle Tunes for Finger Style Guitar, Kicking Mule KM 174, LP (1982), cut# 2. Bowers, Bryan. View from Home, Flying Fish FF-037, LP (1977), cut# 7. Bromberg, David; Band. Midnight on the Water, Columbia PC 33397, LP (1975), cut#A.02b .Brown, Sullivan & Company. Magnum Banjos, Sequatchie --, LP (197?), cut# 8 .Grossman, Stefan. Thunder on the Run, Kicking Mule KM 171, LP (1980), cut#A.04b (Redhaired Boy). Phipps, Bonnie. Autoharpin', Kicking Mule KM 228, LP (1982), cut# 5. Skylark. Favorites, Little Bird LB 1001, Cas (1990), cut#A.04
Stinnett, Cyril. Plain Old Time Fiddling, Stinnett SLP 1013, LP (197?), cut#B.06 (Gilroy) . Thomason, Ron. Mandolin and Other Stuff, Kanawha RT-3, LP (198?), cut#A.01a. Watson, Doc. Doc Watson's Favorites, Liberty LN-10201, LP (1983), cut#A.05a (Little Beggarman)

OTHER NAMES: "The Duck Chews Tobacco," "The First of May", "Gilderoy" (Ire.), "Giolla Rua" (Ire.), "Johnny Dhu," "The Little Beggarman" (Ire.), "The Little Beggar Boy," "An Maidrin Ruadh" (The Little Red Fox)," "The Old Soldier with a Wooden Leg" (W.Va.), "Old Soldier," "The Red Haired Lad," "The Red Headed/Haired Irishman" (Ky.), "Wooden Leg" (W.Va.).

SOURCES: : J.P. Fraley (Rush, Ky.) [Phillips]; learned from fiddler Padraig O'Keeffe by accordion player Johnny O'Leary (Sliabh Luachra region of the Cork-Kerry border) [Moylan]; fiddler Dawson Girdwood (Perth, Ottawa Valley, Ontario) [Begin]. Begin (Fiddle Music in the Ottawa Valley: Dawson Girdwood), 1985; No. 27, pg. 40. Krassen (Appalachian Fiddle), 1973; pg. 81. Messer (Anthology of Favorite Fiddle Tunes), 1980; No. 69, pg. 44. Miller & Perron (New England Fiddlers Repertoire), 1983; No. 132. Moylan (Johnny O'Leary), 1994; No. 300, pg. 173. O'Neill (1915 ed.), 1987; No. 356, pg. 173 (appears as "The Redhaired Lad"). O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 209. O'Neill (1850), 1903/1979; No. 1748, pg. 325. O'Neill (1001 Gems), 1907/1986; No. 921, pg. 157. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), 1994. pg. 196. Spandaro (10 Cents a Dance), 1980; pg. 34. Sweet (Fifer's Delight), 1965/1981; pg. 77. Columbia C 33397, Dave Bromberg Band - "Midnight on the Water" (1975). Smithsonian Folkways SFW CD 40126, Northern Spy - "Choose Your Partners!: Contra Dance & Square Dance Music of New Hampshire" (1999).

LITTLE BEGGARMAN

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 through
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 through
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 rigadoon
So good and God be with you, from auld Johnny Dhu.

The "Old Soldier" is a version "Red-Haired Boy." I sometimes sing it at my bluegrass gigs. I've got other lyric versions as well.

-Richie

Subject: RE: Are there lyrics to 'The Red Haired Boy'^^^
From: Jacob B
Date: 22 Oct 02 - 05:10 PM

Notice that the different titles for this tune go together to tell a story. The Red Haired Boy goes off to war, loses his leg in battle, and as a Soldier With A Wooden Leg is unable to make a living, so he ends up as a Little Beggerman. So much history and tragedy implied by the playing of one instrumental tune.

Subject: RE: Are there lyrics to 'The Red Haired Boy'^^^
From: Glen Reid
Date: 23 Oct 02 - 11:09 AM

Nobody's mentioned Ian and Sylvia's version that was recorded sometime, mid sixties.
Glen

Subject: RE: Are there lyrics to 'The Red Haired Boy'^^^
From: fretless
Date: 23 Oct 02 - 11:50 AM

The Clancy Bros. & Tommy Makem recorded it, too, reissued on CD on a Best of... http://www.irishrecords.com/besofclanbro.html.

Subject: RE: Are there lyrics to 'The Red Haired Boy'^^^
From: Brían
Date: 23 Oct 02 - 11:52 AM

The name of the hornpipe is THE RED HAIRED BOY which is a tranlation from the corruption of the gaelic name GILDEROY. the beggarman's name is Johnny Dhu which is a corruption of Dubh which means black of hair.

Brían

Subject: Lyr Add: THE OLD GEEZER
From: Leeder
Date: 23 Oct 02 - 12:43 PM

Re "The Old Soldier Who Had a Wooden Leg", my mother sang a song that sounds like that, but the tune was "Turkey in the Straw". Her title was "The Old Geezer". The lyrics were:

There was an old geezer and he had a wooden leg,
And he had no tobacco, but tobacco would he beg;
Another old geezer was as cunning as a fox,
And he always had tobacco in his old tobacco box;

Said the first old geezer, "Won't you give me a little chew?"
Said the second old geezer, "I'll be darned if I do!
Just save up your money, and hide it in the rocks,
And you'll always have tobacco in your old tobacco box."

Those lyrics would likely also work if they were sung to the "Red Haired Boy" tune.

Subject: RE: Are there lyrics to 'The Red Haired Boy'^^^
From: Kim C
Date: 23 Oct 02 - 01:23 PM

Leeder beat me to it! That's the one I know.

Subject: Lyr Add: OLD SOLDIER
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 24 Oct 02 - 09:48 AM

OLD SOLDIER- Tune: Red-Haired Boy

Oh, there was a little hen and she had a wooden foot,
And she laid her eggs in the mulberry root.
She laid more eggs than any hen on the farm,
Another little drink wouldn't do us any harm.

Chorus: Save up your money, and save up your chalk,
And you'll always have tobacco in your old tobacco box.

From: Ford

-Richie

Subject: RE: Are there lyrics to 'The Red Haired Boy'^^^
From: Leeder
Date: 24 Oct 02 - 11:43 AM

Michael Cooney sings Richie's words to the tune of "Turkey in the Straw", with other unrelated verses. His fourth line is:

"And another wooden foot wouldn't do her any harm."

Subject: RE: Are there lyrics to 'The Red Haired Boy'^^^
From: Kim C
Date: 24 Oct 02 - 12:56 PM

Does Red-Haired Boy have a chorus?

Subject: RE: Are there lyrics to 'The Red Haired Boy'^^^
From: Leeder
Date: 24 Oct 02 - 03:14 PM

Not usually (if memory serves), but I think I've heard people sing a "deedly-die" nonsense chorus to it.

Subject: Lyr Add: GEEZER AND THE GUISER
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 24 Oct 02 - 10:39 PM

Kim- There are two parts each repeated: AABB; the second part (B)starts on the 7th chord- mixolydian mode. (Key of G: the second section starts on F chord).

Leeder- This is probably the similar the version you remember:

Lry. Add: GEEZER AN THE GUISER

Said the guiser to the geezer, "Will you give me a pull?"
Said the geezer to the guiser, "I'll be damned if I will.
Gave all your money and put it into stocks
And you'll always have tobacco in your old tobacco box."
        
Chorus: Diddle di di dum, diddle dum diddle ay
Diddle dum diddle diddle, diddle diddle, all the day,
Diddle di di dum, diddle dum diddle day,
And he whistled the same old tune.

Said the geezer to the guiser, "Take my advice,
Go down to the river, chop a hole in the ice,
Swim down to the bottom and lie down among the rocks
And you'll never want tobacco for your old tobacco box."

Chorus:

-Richie

Subject: Lyr Add: DOWN IN THE COAL MINE^^^
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 24 Oct 02 - 11:20 PM

Lry. Add: DOWN IN THE COAL MINE
Tune: Red-Haired Boy

I am a jovial collier lad
As blithe as blithe can be
And let the times be good or bad
It's all the same to me
It's little of the world I know
And care less for its ways
For where the Dog Star never glows
It's there I spend my days

Down in the coalmine, underneath the ground
Where a gleam of sunshine never can be found
Digging up the dusky diamonds all the seasons round
Deep down in the coalmine, underneath the ground

Me hands are horny, hard and black
Through working in the vein
And like the clothes upon me back
My speech is rough and plain
And if I stumble with my tongue
I've one excuse to say
It's not the collier's heart that's wrong
It's his head that goes astray

How little do the great ones care
Who sit at home secure
What hidden dangers collier's dare
What hardships they endure
The very fire they sit beside
To cheer themselves and wives
Mayhap was kindled up at cost
Of jovial miners lives

Then cheer up lads and make the most
Of every joy you can
And always make your mirth be such
As best befits a man
For let the times be good or bad
We'll still be jovial souls
For where would Britain be
Without the lads who look for coals^^^

Notes: Here's another one, a broadside from the 1800's.

-Richie

Subject: RE: Are there lyrics to 'The Red Haired Boy'^^^
From: Brían
Date: 25 Oct 02 - 02:06 PM

Getting back to THE LITTLE BEGGARMAN, I was looking through A Dictionary of Hiberno-English and I found a reference toSkinnymalink as a tall bony person, Possibly from Scilligeoir 1. Seller of grain 2. Incessant talker, ptater, prattler.

Brían

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Red Haired Boy^^^
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Jun 03 - 06:29 PM

So, is everybody convinced that "Red-Haired Boy" is "Jolly Beggarman" is "Johnny Dhu"?
Or are we talking about two (or three or more) interrelated songs?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Lyr Add: A GALLUS THING
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Jun 03 - 05:51 PM

I tried to find lyrics to the tune and couldn't so wrote my own. Written while sitting in a bar opposite the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas and drinking Guinness.

A Gallus Thing

As I went a-walking out on the town
I met a pretty lass, in a black velvet gown.
I tried to catch her eye but she looked straight away.
Aye, but I'll live to look another day

CHORUS
The living is the gallus thing,
The living is the baur.
Cos if ye dinnae live,
They'll tak it all awa.
And if ye treat it as yir ain
They never can deny,
That the man that lives it tae the fu'
Is never gaun tae die!

So I went a-walking out on the street
I ganged into a pub, for to rest my feet.
The landlord he swore cos I widnae pay ma way!
Aye, but I'll live tae drink another day!

CHORUS

So I went a-walking doon the birney glen.
I met a handsome farmer looking for some men.
I asked him for a job, he sent me on my way.
Aye, but I'll live to skive another day!

CHORUS

So I went a sailing out on the loch,
The boat it kent nae master as it clapped intae a rock.
She twirled and she sank, as fast as fast can be!
Aye, but I've gaun an' died under the sea!

MODIFIED CHORUS

The living was the gallus thing,
The living was the baur.
I lived a life,
But I took it all awa'.
Cos if ye treat it as yir ain
They always will supply,
A coffin for the drownded fool
An' a whisky in yir eye…

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Red Haired Boy^^^
From: GUEST,GuestSinger
Date: 06 Jul 03 - 11:47 AM

Thank you for the lyrics to this song!! I had been searching for them.
God bless you!