Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter perform ‘Beggar Man’

Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter perform live, accompanied by the Deadly Band (Archie Cuthbertson, Kerry Gilmartin and Dave Steel), and introduced by Annette Shun Wah on series four of Studio 22.

The level of professionalism by the studio crew is evident in this clip. The use of camera cranes and jibs add a visual dynamism to the perfect sound mix.

Archie, Ruby and the band were seasoned performers by the time of this appearance and they deliver a deadly set – tight, confident and soulful.

'Beggar Man' comes from Archie's third album Looking for Butterboy (1997).

Written in the first person, the inspiration for the song is drawn from Archie's experience of living on the streets of Sydney and Melbourne as a young man. The song mentions 'biting', which Archie explains in his autobiography Tell Me Why (2019) is slang for begging.

The live music show Studio 22 ran on ABC television from 1999 to 2003.

Notes by Beth Taylor and Adam Blackshaw