Tae the beggin' I will go, will go
Tae 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 just sit doon and rest

Tae the beggin' I will go, will go
Tae the beggin' I will go

First I maun get a meal-pock made out o' leather reed
And it will haud twa firlots wi' room for beef and breid

Tae the beggin' I will go, will go
Tae the beggin' I will go

Afore that I do gang awa, I'll lat me beard grow strang
And for my nails I winna pair, for a beggar wears them lang

Tae the beggin' I will go, will go
Tae the beggin' I will go

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

Tae the beggin' I will go, will go
Tae the beggin' I will go

Syne I'll gang tae a turner and gar him mak a dish
And it maun haud three chappins for I cudna dee wi' less

Tae the beggin' I will go, will go
Tae the beggin' I will go

I'll gang and seek my quarters afore that it grows dark
Jist when the guidman's sitting doon and new-hame frae his wark

Tae the beggin' I will go, will go
Tae the beggin' I will go

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!"

Tae the beggin' I will go, will go
Tae the beggin' I will go

And maybe the guidman will say, "Puirman, put up your meal
You're welcome to your brose the nicht, likewise your breid and kail"

Tae the beggin' I will go, will go
Tae the beggin' I will go

If there's a wedding in the toon, I'll airt me to be there
And pour my kindest benison upon the winsome pair

Tae the beggin' I will go, will go
Tae the beggin' I will go

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

Tae the beggin' I will go, will go
Tae the beggin' I will go

Tae the beggin' I will go, will go
Tae the beggin' I will go

Tae the beggin' I will go, will go
Tae the beggin' I will go