FTPSS Choir and The Little Beggarman

The First Toa Payoh Secondary School Choir performing at Henderson Secondary, conducted by Mrs Kwek-Pua Hwee Khee. Pardon the sound and the video quality - it was shot on one of my friend's phone, so just turn up the volume if you have to. After watching numerous choirs perform, we were all intent on bringing school pride to FTPSS - and as a result, this was one of our best performances that year. We had a "don't give up attitude" even though we were the underdog there. Being mentally strong, we produced a good sound and the judges were impressed. They said our choir had the potential to be a very good choir. They loved the male section (yup, that's Whye Chiz in the front in long pants).





now compare that with this very good choir. the sound is much better here, and i got this from Youtube sometime ago.


At 2:40 of the first video, we sing 'The Little Beggarman' - a traditional Irish folk song. It's not clear from the video, but it's a very comical song about the life of a beggar. Do watch it again and look through the words.

I am a little beggar and a beggar i have been for
three score or more on this little isle of green.
I'm known along the Liffey from the Basin to the Zoo
and ev'ry body calls me by the name o' Johnny Dhu
Of all the trades agoin' sure the beggin' is the best,
for when a man is tired he can sit him down and rest
beg for his dinner he has nothin' else to do,
only cut around the corner with his old rigadoo

(Du du du du du du..)
(Ding dong ding dong day, ding dong day...)

I slept in a barn one night in Currabawn a
wet night it was but i slept until the dawn;
there were holes in the roof and the rain was coming through,
and the cats and the rats they were playin' peek-a-boo!
When who should awaken but the woman of the house
with her white spotted apron and her calico blouse;
She began to frighten, all i said to her was "Boo! sure
don't be afraid, 'tis only Johnny Dhu."

(Du du du du du du...)
(Ding dong ding dong day ding dong day...)
(dm dm dm dm dm ding a dong ding a dong...)

I met a little girl a walking one day. "Good
morning, little flaxey haired girl," I did say
"Good morning little beggarman and how do you do,
with your rags and your tags and your old rigadoo."
I'll buy a pair leggings 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 color them blue
and an old fashioned lady i will make her too!

(Ah___________)

All along the road with his pack upon his back
Over the fields with a great and heavy sack
with the holes in my shoes and my toes a peeking through,
singing "Skin-a-ma-rink a doodle with my old rigadoo"
Now its time for bed, for it's getting late at night.
The fire's all racked now out with the light
And now you've heard the story of my old rigadoo
So goodbye and God be with you from old Johnny Dhu.

(Du du du du du du...)
(Ding dong ding dong day ding dong day...)
(dm dm dm dm dm ding a dong ding a dong...)

(Ah___________)
---------

a whole lotta words for a 2-min song eh?