Of all the trades in England the beggin' is the best
For when a beggar's tired he can lay him down and rest
And a-beggin' I will go
And a-beggin' I will go
I got on the train in Carlisle they kicked me out at Crewe
I slept on every paving-stone from there to Waterloo
And a-beggin' I will go
And a-beggin' I will go
I got breakfast off the Embankment I got my lunch and tea
And only the finest cardboard made a home that was fit for me
And a-beggin' I will go
And a-beggin' I will go
We sit on the stair at Leicester Square from seven o'clock till ten
Then round the back of the Connaught House for dinner from out of a bin
And a-beggin' I will go
And a-beggin' I will go
I can rest when I am tired and I heed no master's bell
A man'd be daft to be a king when beggars live so well
And a-beggin' I will go
And a-beggin' I will go
The law came down to see us they came down three together
They put out the fire they left us there Oh Lord how we did shiver
And a-beggin' I will go
And a-beggin' I will go
I am a Victorian value I'm enterprise poverty
Completely invisible to the state and a joy to Mrs T
And a-beggin' I will go
And a-beggin' I will go
Of all the trades in England the beggin' is the best
For when a beggar's tired he can lay him down and rest
And a-beggin' I will go
And a-beggin' I will go