The Beggar Man- Quann (NL) 1930 Karpeles A
[From Folk Songs from Newfoundland; Karpeles A version, with music. Version B, also from Fortune Bay in 1930, is melodically almost identical-- also for a similar melody, see Creighton A from Nova Scotia.
R. Matteson 2014]
4. HIND HORN
OR
THE BEGGAR MAN
A. The Beggar Man- sung by Mr. Joseph Quann at Rencontre, Fortune Bay, 18th July 1930
On board of the ship and away sailed he,
He sailed away from his own countree,
He looked at his ring that was pale and dim,
He knew that his love was false to him.
On board of the ship and back sailed he,
He sailed right back to his own countree,
He looked at his ring and it was pale and dim,
And he knew that his love was false to him.
He rode and he rode and he rode up the street,
An old beggar man he chanced to meet.
What news, what news have you got for me?
Tomorrow is your true love's wedding-day
And the squire is invited to give her away.
You haul off your begging rig
And I'll take off my driving suit.
The begging rig it won't fit me,
Your driving suit it won't fit thee.
But let it be right or let it be wrong,
The beggar's suit he did put on.
He rode till he came to Napoleon's gate,
And he lay on his staff in a weary state.
He saw his true love tripping down the stairs,
Gold rings on her fingers and gold in her hair,
And in her hand a glass of wine
All for to treat the old beggar man.
He drank and he drank and he drank so free
And into the glass the ring slipped he.
Did you get it by land, did you get it by strand,
Or did you get it from a drowned man's hand?
I neither got it from the land, I neither got it from the strand,
Nor neither did I get it from a drowned man's hand,
But I got it from your true love was courting you so free,
And now I'm returned on your wedding day.
Then the gold from her fingers she then hauled off
And the gold from her hair it did fall off
I will follow my true love for ever, ever more
And beg my bread from door to door.
Between the kitchen and the hall
The old beggar's suit he did let fall.
He showed his true love the flower of them all
He's the nicest little fellow that stands in the the hall.