Digital Tradition Mirror

The Little Beggar Boy

(This score available as ABC, SongWright, PostScript, PNG, or PMW, or a MIDI file)
Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

The Little Beggar Boy

I am a little beggar boy,
My mother she is gone, (dead?)
My father is a drunkard,
He won't buy me no bread;

I goes up to the pantry
To get a slice of bread,
My daddy come behind me
And whip me up to bed.

I set beside the window,
To hear the organ play,
God bless my dear old mommy
Who is dead and far a way.

Ding dong my castle bell,
Farewell my mommy,
You bury me in the same churchyard,
Along the side of my mommy,

My coffin shall be black,
Six white angels at the back,
Two to pray (watch?) and two to watch (pray?)
And two to carry my soul a way.

From Travellers' Songs, MacColl & Seeger
Collected from Emily Baker

note: a curious hodge-podge. The tune drifts in and out of Home Sweet
     Home, with strong suggestions of Gypsy Girl. RG
RG
                                                 apr96

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!