Picrous Day was a festival celebrated by the tin miners of Cornwall on the 2nd Thursday before Christmas. This is believed to be the feast of the discovery of tin by a man named Picrous whom miners in the East of Cornwall celebrated as the founder of their industry instead of St Piran.
Robert Hunt in his Popular Romances of the West of England states.
"The second Thursday before Christmas-day is a festival observed by the tinners of the district of Blackmore, and known as Picrous day. It is not at present marked by any distinctive ceremonies, but it is the occasion of a supper and much merry-making. The owner of the tin-stream contributes a shilling a man towards it. This is said to be the feast of the discovery of tin by a man named Picrous. My first impression was that the day took its name from the circumstance of a pie forming the pièce de résistance of the supper; but this explanation is not allowed by tinners, nor sanctioned by the usages of the feast. What truth there may be in the tradition of the first tinner, Picrous, it is now too late to discover, but the notion is worth recording. It has occurred to me whether, from some similarity between the names (not a close one, I admit it), the honours of Picrous may not have been transferred to St Piran, who is generally said to be the patron saint of tinners. St Piran is not known in Blackmore, and his festival is on the 5th of March. The tinners also have a festival to commemorate the discovery of smelting"
If this is heaven, then I'm in hell
If trust is misfortune, then wish me well
While I think of sadness baby
Your light shines through, your light shines through
Your light shines through
chorus:
Because it's beggar's day
Because it's beggar's day
Because it's beggar's day
I've lost control of my darker side
A world all for free, on a nastier ride
*And I have crossed myself in anger
All your mercy can't save me, all your mercy can't save
All your mercy can't save me
Because it's beggar's day
Because it's beggar's day
Because it's beggar's day
lead:
It's beggar's day
You know it's beggar's day
Because it's beggar's day
See this love, I've stored for you
Wheel it and deal it, but our feelin's are true
repeat *