Music: Traditional
Arrangement: Kadee Crottier
Published: Kadee Crottier

Soprano: Kadee Crottier
Mezzo: Shana Marchand
Alto: Jenn Jensen
Tenor: Adam Cole
Bass: Daniel Skaarup

I am a little beggarman and begging I have been
For three score or more in this little isle of green
I’m known from the Liffey down to Segue
And I’m known by the name of old Johnny Dhu

Of all the trades that’s going, I’m sure begging is the best
For when a man is tired, he can sit down and rest
He can beg for his dinner, he has nothing else to do
Only cut around the corner with his old rig-a-doo

I slept in a barn, down at Caurabawn
A wet night came on and I slept ’til the dawn
With holes in the roof and the rain coming through
And the rate and the cats, they were playing peek-a-boo

When who did I waken but the woman of the house
With her white spotty apron and her calico blouse
She began to frighten and I said, “Boo,
Aarah, don’t be afraid, mum, it’s only Johnny Dhu!”

I met a little flaxy-haired girl one day
“Good morning, little flaxy-haired girl,” I did say
“Good morning, little beggarman, an’ how do ye do
With your rags and your tags and your ol’ rig-a-doo?”

I’ll buy a pair of leggings and a collar and a tie
And a nice young lady I’ll fetch by and by
I’ll buy a pair of goggles and I’ll color them blue
And an old-fashioned lady I will make her too

Over the road with my pack on my back
Over the fields with my great and heavy sack
With holes in my shoes and my toes peeping through
Singing skinamarinky dinky dink and old Johnny Dhu

Skinamarinky dinky dink
Skinamarinky do
I love you
Skinamarinky dinky dink
Skinamarinky do
I love you

I must be goin’ to bed for it’s getting late at night
The fire’s all raked and out goes the light
So now you’ve heard the story of my ol’ rig-a-doo
It’s goodbye and God be with ye, says old Johnny Dhu