Irish traditional song lyrics — collected by Beer Belly Band.
I am a little beggarman, a begging I have been
For three score years in this little isle of green
Up to the Liffey down to Tessague
I ‘m known by the name of Johnny Dhu
Of all the trades a going, sure the begging is the best
For when a man is tired he can sit him down and rest
He can beg for his dinner, he has nothing else to do
But to slip around the corner with his old rigadoo
Chorus:
Didddle-le-Idle-Deedle-Idle-Deedle-Idle-Dum
Idle-Deedle-Idle-Deedle-Idle-Deedle-Idle-Dum
A-Deedle-Idle-Deedle-Idle-Deedle-Idle-Dum
Idle-Deedle-Idle-Deedle-A-Deedle-Idle-Dum
I slept in a barn one night in Currabawn
A wet night came on and I slept until the dawn
There was holes in the roof and the raindrops coming through
And the rats and the cats were a playing peek a boo
Who did I waken but the woman of the house
With her white spotted apron and her calico blouse
She began to frighten and I said boo
Sure, don’t be afraid at all, it’s only Johnny Dhu
I met a little flaxen haired girl one day
Good morning little flaxen haired girl, I did say
Good morning 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 by
I’ll buy a pair of goggles and I’ll colour them with blue
And an old fashioned lady I will make her too
So all along the high road with my bag upon my back
Over the fields with my great heavy sack
With holes in my shoes and my toes a peeping through
Singing, skin a ma rink a doodle with my auld rigadoo
O I must be going to bed for it’s getting late at night
The fire is all raked and now ’tis out of light
For now you’ve heard the story of my auld rigadoo
So good night and God be with you, from auld Johnny Dhu
So good night and God be with you, from auld Johnny Dhu