“The Navvy Boy”
Description
The navvy boy goes roaming, finding work and shelter with a ganger. The ganger's only daughter wishes marry and travel with him. The girl's mother questions this; the daughter says that her father was a navvy.The old man dies and leaves them 500 pounds
Notes
It has been suggested that this is a reworking of "The Little Beggarman." There are common elements, but that's quite a stretch. Roud lumps it with "The Roving Irishman," which also has points of similarity but appears a separate song to me. - RBW
References
- SHenry H760, pp. 471-472, "The Navvy Boy" (1 text, 1 tune)
- DT, NAVVYBOY*
- Roud #360
- BI, HHH760