Bluegrass Messengers

English & Other 279. The Jolly Beggar

Broadside source of Child # 279, "The Jolly Beggar." Tune direction- "There was a Jovial Beggar-man," from the ballad opera "Sylvia," Air # 6, 1731 B552 in Olson.

THE POLLITICK BEGGAR-MAN [unedited]

Introduction:
Who got the love of a pretty maid,
And on her Cittern sweetly plaid;
At last she flung her Milkpail over the well
And bid the De'l take the Milk-pail,
Maiden-head and all.

Tune is, There was a Jovial Beggar.

There was a jovial Beggar-man, a begging he was bound,
And he did seek his living in Country and in Town.
With a long staff and a patcht coat, he pranc'd along the pad,
And by report of many a one, he was a proper lad;
Refrain:
His cheeks were like the crimson rose, his forehead smooth and high,
And he was the bravest Beggar-man that ever I saw with eye.

He came unto a Farmer's gate, and for an Alms did crave,
The Maid did like the Beggar-man, and good relief she gave;
She took him by the Lilly hand, and set him to the fire,
Which was as well, as tongue could tell, or heart of man desire.

Refrain:

A curious mess of firmaty for him she did provide,
With a lovely cup of nut-brown Ale, and Sugar-sops beside;
When he thus found the Maiden's love, and got so good a prize,
It made his instrument to move, and spirits for to rise.

Refrain:

Sweet-heart give me some lodging, that I all night may stay,
Or else give me my answer, that I may go to that way;
The Maid went to the Hay-mow and fetcht a bottle of hay,
And laid it behind the Parlor-door, on which the Beggar-man lay;

Refrain:

Resolve me, said the maiden, if that you will or can,
For I do verily believe, thou art a Gentleman;
In truth then said the Beggar, my Parents they are poor,
And I do seek my living each day from door to door;

Refrain:

'Tis pitty said the Maiden fair, that such a lively lad,
Should be a Beggars only heir, a Fortune poor and bad,
I wish that my condition were of the same degree,
Then hand in hand I'de quickly wend throughout the World with thee;

Refrain:

When he perceiv'd the maiden's mind, and that her heart was his,
He did embrace her in his arms, and sweetly did her kiss,
And with one free and joynt consent he prickt her master-vein,
And liking well this lesson new, he struck it up again;
Refrain:

In lovely sport and merriment the night away they spent,
In Venus game for their delight, and both their hearts content;
A Beggar-man was mettle proof, in shooting he did not miss,
And every time he toucht the mark, she sweetly did him kiss;

Refrain:

Betimes in the morning then, As soon as it was day,
He left the Damosel fast asleep, and nimbly budg'd away,
When he from her an hour was gone, the Damosel did wake,
And seeing the Beggar-man not there, her heart began to ack;

Refrain:

Then did she sigh and wring her hands, the tears did trickling pour,
For loosing her virginity, and Virgin's maiden flower;
When twenty weeks were come & gone, her heart was something sad,
Because she found herself with Bairn, and does not know the Dad;

Refrain:

There is, I see, no remedy, for what is past and gone,
And many a one that laughs at me, may do as I have done;
Then she did take her Milk pail, and flung it over the well,
O the Devil may go with my Milk-pail, my Maiden head and all;

Refrain:

You Maidens fair, where e're you are, keep up your store and goods,
For when that some have got their wills, they'l leave you in the suds,
Let no man tempt you nor entice, be not too fond and coy,
But soon agree to loyalty, your freedom to enjoy;

Refrain:

F. Coles, T. Vere, J. Wright and J. Clarke, printers, ca. 1674-1679.
_________________
from Sam Henry's Songs of the People

A BEGGARMAN CAM' OWER THE LEA

Oh, a beggarman cam' ower the lea,
An' he toul tidin's unto me,
He was luckin' for a help an' a charitee,
Wud ye lodge a beggarman?

Wae m' nantanoora-noora-nee,
Nanta—noora-noora-nee,
Wae m' nanta-noora-rtoora-nee,
Wud ye lodge a beggarman?

Oh, the oul' wife wudnae let me stay,
An' the young yin wudnae let me gae,
So Ah throwed m' meal-poke tae the wa',
And I began tae sing.

Early nixt mor[n]in' the oul wife rose,
She missed the beggar and his clothes,
First tae the cupboard an' then tae the chist,
Naethin' ava there could be missed,
Wasn't he the honest oul' man?

When the kettle was boiled an' the breakfast made,
She went to waken the young fair maid,
But ah! a shout the mither gaed,
She's awa' wi' the beggarman.

Now seven long years was passed an' gone,
The beggar he cam' back again,
He was luckin' for a help an' a charitee,
Wud ye lodge a beggarman?

Oh, beggar, Ah'l lodge nane ava,
The last Ah lodged taen mae dauchter awa',
The last Ah lodged taen mae dauchter awa',
On' Ah think you're the very oul' man.

k: "Gaberlunzie Man," "The Beggarman."
Other titles: "The Auld (Dirty) (Ragged) Beggarman Gaberlunzie)," "The Barley Straw ," "The Beggar Laddie (Man) ," "He Wadna Lie in Barn," "The Jolly Beggar."

Source: George Graham (Cross Lane, Coleraine)from his grandfather, Joe Wilson (Roddenfoot, Ballymoney) from his grandfather (Ballymoney).
3 June 1939