The Little Beggarman lyrics and chords

The chords to The Little Beggarman are presented in the key of D. The lyrics are about a beggar who despite his lowly status is happy with his life.

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[chordsandlyrics][D]Oh I am a little beggarman, a begging I have [C]been
For [D]three score years in this [C]little isle of [Am]green
I am [D]known along the Liffey from the Basin to the [C]zoo
And [D]everybody calls me by the name of [C]Johnny [D]Dhu

Of [Am]all the trades a going, sure the [C]begging is the [G]best
For [D]when a man is tired he can [C]sit him down and [Am]rest
He can [D]beg for his dinner, he has nothing else to [C]do
But to [D]slip around the corner with his ould [C]riga[D]doo[/chordsandlyrics]

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I slept in a barn one night in Currabawn
A shocking wet night it was, but I slept until the dawn
There were holes in the roof and the raindrops coming through
And the rats and the cats were a playing tink-a-boo

Who did I waken but the woman of the house
With her white spotted apron and her fine gingham blouse
She began to get excited and all I said was “Boo,
Sure, don’t be afraid at all, ‘tis only Johnny Dhu.”

I met a little girl when a-walking 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-bye
I’ll buy a pair of goggles and I’ll colour them with blue
And an ould-fashioned lady I will make her too

So all along the high road with my bag upon my back
Over the fields with my bulgin’ heavy sack
With holes in my shoes and my toes a-peeping through
Singing skill-a-malick-adoodle with my auld rigadoo

O I must be going to bed for it’s getting late at night
The fire’s all raked and now ‘tis out the light
For now you’ve heard the story of my auld rigadoo
So good-bye and God be with you, from auld Johnny Dhu

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Lyrics and Chords

The Little Beggarman lyrics and chords print version

[D]Oh I am a little beggarman, a begging I have [C]been
For [D]three score years in this [C]little isle of [Am]green
I am [D]known along the Liffey from the Basin to the [C]zoo
And [D]everybody calls me by the name of [C]Johnny [D]Dhu

Of [Am]all the trades a going, sure the [C]begging is the [G]best
For [D]when a man is tired he can [C]sit him down and [Am]rest
He can [D]beg for his dinner, he has nothing else to [C]do
But to [D]slip around the corner with his ould [C]riga[D]doo

I slept in a barn one night in Currabawn
A shocking wet night it was, but I slept until the dawn
There were holes in the roof and the raindrops coming through
And the rats and the cats were a playing tink-a-boo

Who did I waken but the woman of the house
With her white spotted apron and her fine gingham blouse
She began to get excited and all I said was “Boo,
Sure, don’t be afraid at all, ‘tis only Johnny Dhu.”

I met a little girl when a-walking 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-bye
I’ll buy a pair of goggles and I’ll colour them with blue
And an ould-fashioned lady I will make her too

So all along the high road with my bag upon my back
Over the fields with my bulgin’ heavy sack
With holes in my shoes and my toes a-peeping through
Singing skill-a-malick-adoodle with my auld rigadoo

O I must be going to bed for it’s getting late at night
The fire’s all raked and now ‘tis out the light
For now you’ve heard the story of my auld rigadoo
So good-bye and God be with you, from auld Johnny Dhu

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Lyrics and Chords