I am a little beggarman, a begging I have been
For fifty years or more in this little isle of green,
Up to the Liffey and down to Tessague,
And I'm known by the name of old Johnny Doo

Chorus:
Of all the trades of living sure the begging is the best
For when man is tired he can sit down and rest
Beg for a living, he's got nothing else to do
But run around the corner with his old rigado

I slept last night in a barn at Currabawn
A wet night came on and I slipped through the door
Holes in my shoes and the toes peepin' through
Singin' skinny-ma-rink-a-doodlum for ould Johnny Dhu

Chorus

I must be gettin' home for it's gettin' late at night
The fire's all raked and there isn't any light
And now you've heard me story of the old ricadoo
It's good-night and God bless you from ould Johnny Dhu