The Beggar Man- Gilkie (NS) pre1950 Creighton
[The singer get the husband and wifie mixed up in verse 5,
R. Matteson 2013]
The Beggar Man (The Gaberlunyie Man)- Sung by William Gilkie, Sambro, NS. Melody transcribed by Margaret Sargent; Slowly and freely
1. There was an old man came over lea,
With many fine story on to me,
He was sick and wet and for charitie's sake,
Will you lodge a beggar that comes?
Chorus: A lea tow tow ray.
2. The night being dark and somewhat damp
It's down by the fireside the old man sat,
He slung his meal bag o'er his back
As he knelt and he knelt and sang. Cho.
3. O it's, "Lassie, o lassie you are too young,
You are[1] not got the lilt nor the begging tongue,
You are not got the lilt nor the begging tongue
So along with me you cannot gang." Cho.
4. Those two rigged up a plot to rise four hours,
To rise four hours before the folks,
So slyly did they slip the lock
And across the fields they ran. Cho.
5. It's early in the morning when the old man [2] rose
He missed the beggar man and all his clothes,
"O Will, O Will, " the old man [2] cries,
"There are some of our old gear gone. " Cho.
6. She ran to the room where the old man lay
She bid the old man go out in the barn
The cow for to milk and the cream for to churn,
She bid him to go speedily a-bey. Cho.
7. She ran to the room where her daughter slept,
The bed it was empty and she was away,
She held up her hands saying, "Praise be blest,
She's awa' with the beggar man." Cho.
8. O some went on horseback and some run on foot
And as for the old wifie she could not creep,
Bgt she hustled about saying, "Hip free, hip [3],
I'll never lodge a beggar that's gang's." Cho.
9. When twenty long months had passed and gone
The beggarman camer back in all his rags,
Saying, "Old wifie since your courtship is gained,
Will you lodge a beggar man that comes?" Cho.
10. "I'll lodge no beggar that comes a lea,
I only had a daughter yet but one,
And she's awa' with the beggar man,
I don't know when or where. Cho.
11. "Old wifie, old wifie, what would you give
A sight of your daughter tor to see?"
"You cunning light rogue, I think it is thee,
And I wish that I had you slain." Cho.
12. "Old wifie, old wifie, that couldn't be
For your daughter she's far happier with me
For she holds a baby on her knee,
And another one a-coming. -Cho.
13. "It's yonder over the muriel she's coming,
Her silks and her satins and her coach and three,"
She held up her hands, she blessed the hour,
That her daughter had married the lord of the land. Cho.
My Footnotes (last two by Creighton):
1. have
2. old wifie
3. frae hip to hip
4. your courtsie