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The Little Begger Girl Lyrics

I’m just a little beggar girl and Sally is my name
You can call me a skiver and I’ll call you the same
You can show me you’re sorry if you think it’s a shame
That I’m only a poor little beggar girl
Yes I’m only a poor little beggar girl
You can show me you’re sorry if you think it’s a shame
That I’m only a poor little beggar girl

I’ll dance with my peg leg a-wiggling at the knee
I’ll play on the accordion my father gave to me
For it’s well worth it all to please a gent such as thee
For I’m only a poor little beggar girl
Yes I’m only a poor little beggar girl
And it’s well worth it all to please a gent such as thee
For I’m only a poor little beggar girl

I’ve been down to London, I’ve been up to Crewe
I travel far and wide to do the work that I do
‘Cause I love taking money off a snob like you
For I’m only a poor little beggar girl
Yes I’m only a poor little beggar girl
And I love taking money off a snob like you
For I’m only a poor little beggar girl

Oh the poor they will be rich, and the rich they will be poor
That’s according to Saul when he wrote down the law
And I’d much rather be rich after than before
For I’m only a poor little beggar girl
Yes I’m only a poor little beggar girl
And I’d much rather be rich, after than before
For I’m only a poor little beggar girl

If the words of my song do your conscience alarm
Just remember generosity is like a lucky charm
If you give me your money it’ll do you no harm
For I’m only a poor little beggar girl
Yes I’m only a poor little beggar girl
If you give me your money it’ll do you no harm
For I’m only a poor little beggar girl
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Cover art for The Little Begger Girl lyrics by Richard & Linda Thompson

I love this song! With its music and rhythm, it's definitely reminiscent of a traditional folk song (Irish, I'm presuming), and the words "gent" and "thee" support this. I love the line "I'll dance with my peg leg a-wiggling at the knee" because it's just so whimsical. In a modern context, it's rather like the next song on the album (I want to see the bright lights...): "At the end of the Rainbow" with its general pessimism and disdain for the wealthy. I love the teasing nature as she goes from calling him "a gent such as thee" to "a snob like you" without breaking her stride!

@ElenSila I love the song as well, but would point out the "peg leg a-wiggling at the knee" is just as ghastly as it is whimsical... that's Richard Thompson for you! He revels in the underbelly of life--similar to "Down Where the Drunkards Roll" in that way. And Linda sings this song with such indelicate relish... you can really smell the gutter and grime off this "Girl."

 
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