I'll Tell Me Ma



I'll Tell Me Ma (also called "The Wind") is a well known children's song. It was collected in various parts of England in the 19th century and again appears in collections from shortly after the turn of the 20th century. In Ireland the chorus usually refers to Belfast city and is known colloquially as "The Belle of Belfast City", although it is also adapted to other Irish cities, such as Dublin. English versions refer to the "Golden City" or "London City". This song is Roud Folk Song Index number 2649.

The song accompanies a children's game. A ring is formed by the children joining hands, one player standing in the centre. When asked, "Please tell me who they be," the girl in the middle gives the name or initials of a boy in the ring (or vice versa). The ring then sings the rest of the words, and the boy who was named goes into the centre.

Song Lyrics
I'll tell me ma when I go home The boys won't leave the girls alone They'll pull my hair, they stole my comb Well, that's alright till I go home

She is handsome, she is pretty She is the belle of Belfast City She is courtin' one, two, three Please won't you tell me, who is she?

Albert Mooney say's he loves her All the boy's are fighting for her They knock at the door and ring at the bell Oh my true love, are you well?

Out she comes as white as snow Rings on her fingers and bells on her toes Ole Jenny Murray says she'll die If you don't get the fella with the roving eye

Let the wind and the rain and hail blow high And the snow come tumbling from the sky She's as nice as apple pie She'll get her own lad by and by

When she gets a lad of her own She won't tell her ma when she comes home Let them all come as they will For it's Albert Mooney she loves still

I'll tell me ma when I go home The boys won't leave the girls alone They'll pull my hair, they stole my comb Well, that's alright till I go home

She is handsome, she is pretty She is the bell of Belfast City She is courtin' one, two, three Please won't you tell me, who is she?

I'll tell me ma when I go home The boys won't leave the girls alone They'll pull my hair, they stole my comb Well, that's alright till I go home

She is handsome, she is pretty She is the bell of Belfast City She is courtin' one, two, three Please won't you tell me, who is she?