Rigadoon
Great Big Sea Lyrics


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Well, I am a little beggarman, a begging I have been
For three score or more in the little isle of green
All over the Liffey and down to Segue
I'm known by the name of auld Johnny Dhu

Of all the trades a going, begging is the best
When a man gets tired he can sit down and rest
Singin' for his supper when there's nothing else to do
When I come around the corner with me old rigadoo

I went to a barn, went down to Currabawn
Got down on the floor and I slept till the dawn
Holes in the roof and the rain seeping thru
Me toes froze together in me little beggar shoes

Buy a pair of leggings and a collar and a tie
A nice old lady you will find by and by
Buy a pair of leggings and I'll color them blue
For a foxy old lady I'll make her too

(Way-hay and away we go)

I met a little flaxen haired girl one day
Good morning little flaxen haired girl, I did say
Good morning little beggarman how do you do
With your bags and your rags and your auld rigadoo

Who should I waken but the woman of the house
With her white spotted apron and her calico blouse
She began to frighten so I said boo
Sure, don't be afraid, it's only Johnny Dhu

Over the road with me pack on me back
Over all the fields with me big heavy sack
Over the hills with the moon peeking through
Singing, skin a ma rink a doodle on me auld rigadoo

I must be going to bed, it's getting late at night
The fire is all out, so out goes the light




Now you've heard the story of the auld rigadoo
So good night and God be with you, this is auld Johnny Dhu

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Rigadoon" by Great Big Sea describe the life of a beggar named Johnny Dhu as he travels throughout Ireland, begging for food and shelter. He explains that although there are many trades one can pursue, begging is the best because it allows him to take breaks whenever he needs to rest. To pass the time, he sings for his supper and plays his old rigadoo. Despite the hardships of his life, Johnny seems content and even cheerful. He sleeps in barns and endures the cold and rain, but he takes everything in stride. He even has a flirty encounter with a "little flaxen-haired girl" and teases a "foxy old lady" by offering to make her "leggings and a collar and a tie" if she will go out with him.


The song paints a picture of a simple but fulfilling existence, where pleasure can be found in the small things in life. Johnny Dhu's lifestyle may seem harsh to some, but the lyrics suggest that he enjoys it because of the freedom and simplicity it provides. The song is a celebration of a humble way of life that focuses on the essentials and finds joy in simple pleasures.


Line by Line Meaning

Well, I am a little beggarman, a begging I have been
I am a beggar, and I have been begging for a very long time.


For three score or more in the little isle of green
I have been begging for sixty or more years in Ireland.


All over the Liffey and down to Segue
I have begged all over Dublin and in the town of Segue.


I'm known by the name of auld Johnny Dhu
People know me by the name of Old Johnny Black.


Of all the trades a going, begging is the best
Begging is the best profession because when a man is tired, he can rest.


When a man gets tired he can sit down and rest
A beggar can rest when he gets tired.


Singin' for his supper when there's nothing else to do
A beggar can entertain people in exchange for food when he has nothing else to do.


When I come around the corner with me old rigadoo
I come around the corner with my old bag full of my belongings.


I went to a barn, went down to Currabawn
I went to Currabawn and stayed in a barn overnight.


Got down on the floor and I slept till the dawn
I slept on the floor of the barn until sunrise.


Holes in the roof and the rain seeping thru
The barn has holes in the roof, and the rain comes through.


Me toes froze together in me little beggar shoes
My toes were so cold that they froze together in my small shoes.


Buy a pair of leggings and a collar and a tie
If you buy a pair of leggings, a collar, and a tie, you will look respectable.


A nice old lady you will find by and by
You will eventually find a kind old lady to help you.


Buy a pair of leggings and I'll color them blue
If you buy a pair of leggings, I will dye them blue for you.


For a foxy old lady I'll make her too
I will make a nice outfit for a pretty old lady.


(Way-hay and away we go)
Singing and dancing as we go.


I met a little flaxen haired girl one day
One day, I met a young girl with blonde hair.


Good morning little flaxen haired girl, I did say
I greeted the little girl by saying good morning.


Good morning little beggarman how do you do
The little girl responded by asking how I was doing as a beggar.


With your bags and your rags and your auld rigadoo
The little girl noticed my belongings and my old bag.


Who should I waken but the woman of the house
I accidentally woke up the woman who owned the barn.


With her white spotted apron and her calico blouse
She was wearing a spotted apron and a calico blouse.


She began to frighten so I said boo
She got scared, but I reassured her it was just me.


Sure, don't be afraid, it's only Johnny Dhu
I told her not to worry and introduced myself as Johnny Dhu.


Over the road with me pack on me back
I am walking down the road with my bag on my back.


Over all the fields with me big heavy sack
I am walking through the fields with a heavy bag.


Over the hills with the moon peeking through
I am walking over the hills with the moon shining in the sky.


Singing, skin a ma rink a doodle on me auld rigadoo
I am singing and dancing with joy with my old bag swinging by my side.


I must be going to bed, it's getting late at night
It is getting late, and I have to go to bed.


The fire is all out, so out goes the light
The fire has gone out, and I am turning off the light.


Now you've heard the story of the auld rigadoo
You have heard my story about my old bag and my life as a beggar.


So good night and God be with you, this is auld Johnny Dhu
I am saying goodnight, and I wish you well. This is Johnny Dhu signing off.




Contributed by Cameron I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@gdgest

This variant of an Irish street ballad, The Little Beggarman (Johnny Dhu), appears as a hidden track (#16) on Great Big Sea's 1997 album Play, but GBS often refers to it with different titles: Little Beggardude, Little Beggarman, etc. Thanks for sharing. :-)

@halfnewf13

I love this song....awesome, gets you moving and a shaking.....

@BronsoIo

I sing the Diddilydoooldydidldyado do da when i wake up to the smell of bacon... up until i get to the table.

@BronsoIo

I just like to imagine that is what they say... makes the whole song about how much they love bacon.

@spikelet

Beggin'. LOL. Bacon is the best, too.

@Nirad007

do you know if they have every played it live. if so where/link it please

@BronsoIo

Bacon is the best! 0:22