Old Beggar Man- Walsh (NS) 1950 Creighton A
[My title. From Creighton/Senior, Traditional Songs from Novas Scotia, 1950, pp. 11-17; five versions A-E.
R. Matteson 2014]
A. Old Beggar Man- Sung by Mrs. Vincent Walsh, East Roman Valley.
1.O where were you bred and where were you born?
In old Scot-a-land I was bred and born,
I am going away to leave you, do not mourn
Until the day I may return."
2. "Here is a ring, a token of true love,
A token of true love, let it be old or be new,
And when this ring is getting pale and worn[1]
You know that I am with some other one. "
3 He sailed away far across the sea,
He sailed till he came to some foreign counteree,
He looked at the ring, it was getting pale and worn
And he knew she was with some other one.
4 Back to home quickly sailed he,
He sailed till he came to his own counteree,
The first one he met when he came on land
Was but a poor old beggar man.
5 "What news? What news? old man? " cried he,
" What news have you got old man for me? "
" Bad news, bad news, " the beggar man did say,
"To-morrow is your true love's wedding day. "
6. "Give to me your suit and reed
And I'll give you my clothes and steel,
And I will beg from door to hand
And nothing but the best from the young bride's hand. "
7. He begged from Peter and he begged from Paul,
He begged from the highest to the lowest of them all,
Until he came to his true love's gate
He stood on the steps as he leaned o'er the gate.
8. Soon a fair maiden came tripping down stairs,
Rings on her fingers, gold in her ears;
With a glass of wine in her right hand,
She gave it to the poor old beggar man.
9. Out of the glass he drank the wine,
Into the glass he dropped a ring,
Said she, "Where did you get it, on sea or on land
Or did you take it off some dead man's hand?"
10. "I did not get it on sea or on land,
Or I did not take it off a dead man's hand,
It's a token of true love when we used to court so gay,
Now I do return it on your wedding day."
11. Rings from her fingers she did pull off,
Gold from her ears she did let fall,
Saying, "Willie I'll be with you for ever ever more
Though we might have to beg from door to door."
12. Between the kitchen and the hall
Willie let the old beggar's suit then fail,
And his clothes and steer shone so far beyond them all,
He was the finest looking young man that stood in the hall.
13. Early in the morning just at the break of day
They both went to church and they made no delay,
Now they are married and living hand in hand,
No more is he called the old beggar man.
1. wan