To The Beggin' I Will Go

Chorus (after each verse):

To the beggin' I will go, go

To the beggin' I will go

O' a' the trades a man can try, the beggin' is the best

For when a beggar's weary he can jist sit down and rest

First I maun get a meal-pock made out o' leather reed

And it will haud twa firlots wi' room for beef and breid

Afore that I do gang awa, I'll lat my beard grow strang

And for my nails I winna pair, for a beggar wears them lang

I'll gang to find some greasy cook and buy frae her a hat

Wi' twa-three inches o' a rim, a' glitterin' owre wi' fat

Syne I'll gang to a turner and gar him mak a dish

And it maun haud three chappins for I cudna dee wi' less

I'll gang and seek my quarters before that it grows dark

Jist when the guidman's sitting doon and new-hame frae his wark

Syne I'll tak out my muckle dish and stap it fu' o' meal

And say, "Guidwife, gin ye gie me bree, I winna seek you kail"

And maybe the guidman will say, "Puirman, put up your meal

You're welcome to your brose the nicht, likewise your breid and kail"

If there's a wedding in the toon, I'll airt me to be there

And pour my kindest benison upon the winsome pair

And some will gie me breid and beef and some will gie me cheese

And I'll slip out among the folk and gather up bawbees