Origins: Roy Roger Um / Hi Ho Jerum / Hi Ro Jerum

Subject: RE: ADD: Roy Roger Um
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 09 Jun 99 - 11:04 PM

The version I've known forever is in the DT. Look for The Rich Man and the Poor Man.

Sandy

Subject: RE: ADD: Roy Roger Um
From: Martin _Ryan
Date: 09 Jun 99 - 08:27 PM

This song was collected from Irish travellers/tinkers. It's a version of "Dives and Lazarus". I'll have a listen to Pauline's version and try to make more sense of it - although, of course, the line-endings are not supposed to make sense, really!"

Regards

Subject: RE: ADD: Roy Roger Um
From: Barbara
Date: 09 Jun 99 - 07:46 PM

I learned a version of this growing up, Wolfgang. And I don't remember the rich man's name. Zebedee maybe?
I do remember that the chorus went

Ho ry-chee rum, (2X)
Skittle-ma whack a doo jee ak,
Ho ry-chee rum.

And 'spruce' is right. It's a slang word for 'dapper', or 'natty'. People say 'he's all spruced up' when they mean dressed fancy. Sunday-go-to-meetin' dressed. Have I found one that works for you yet?

I didn't remember all the different drinks at the end in my Sunday School version, just that he shovelled coal-i-um. If it's a drink, it's chartreuse, if it's a cigar, it's a cheroot.

I'll bet somebody knows who the rich man was.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: Lyr Add: ROY ROGER UM
From: Wolfgang
Date: 09 Jun 99 - 02:26 PM

see below my far from perfect transcription of this song from the South Roscommon singers circle CD. Please improcve my attempt.

Wolfgang

ROY ROGER UM

1. Now there was a rich man and his name it was Sabis-ee-um(?),
glory hallelujah, oh Roger um.
He wore a silk hat and his coat was very spruce(?)-ee-um,
glory hallelujah, oh Roger um.

Ch.: Oh, Roger um, oh, Roger um,
skillymalinkydoodelay, oh, Roger um.

2. Now this rich man who lived in Jerusal-ee-um
he (gave swelled in this to the ?) people of Jerusal-ee-um.

3. At the rich man's gate there lived a human wreck-ee-um
and to work he was not able-ee-um.

4. So he begged some crumbs from the rich man's table-ee-um,
but the rich man he did refuse-ee-um.

5. Now the poor man died and he went up to heaven-ee-um
and he boozed with the angels until half past eleven-ee-um.

6. And the rich man died but he didn't fare so well-ee-um,
for Old Nick cornered him and shooked him into Hell-ee-um.

7. Now the first thing he asked for was a little ale-ee-um,
but Old Nick told him it wasn't a hotel-ee-um.

8. And the next thing he asked for was a little chertruc-ee-um(?),
but Old Nick told him to ask it was no use-ee-um.

9. And the next thing he asked for was a whisky and a sod-ee-um,
but Old Nick told him to shovel on the coal-ee-um.

10. Now the moral of the story is, rich men go to Hell-ee-um,
but we won't go, for we'll all stony-brok-ee-um.