The last song for this school year is a fun, fast children's game/dancing song. Although it is now thought of as an Irish song (referring to the Belle of Belfast City), it was also heard in other parts of the United Kingdom, naming other places such as "London City."
The Wikipedia page for this song lists a wide variety of performers, more than we can list here. Some to check out: The Chieftains, The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, and (for the Canadians) The Rankin Family.
Lyrics
(Chorus)
I'll tell me ma, when I go home
The boys won't leave the girls alone
They pulled my hair, they stole my comb
But that's alright, 'til I go home
She is handsome, she is pretty
She is the belle of Belfast city
She is a-courting one, two, three
Please, won't you tell me who is she?
1. Albert Mooney says he loves her
All the boys are after her [fightin' for her]
Knock at the door, ringin' the bell
Oh, my true love are you well?
Out she comes as white as snow
Rings on her fingers, bells on her toes
Wee Jenny Murray says she'll die
If she doesn't get the fellow with the roving eye
(Chorus)
I'll tell me ma, when I go home
The boys won't leave the girls alone
They pulled my hair, they stole my comb
But that's alright, 'til I go home
She is handsome, she is pretty
She is the belle of Belfast city
She is a-courting one, two, three
Please, won't you tell me who is she?
2. Let the wind and the rain and the hail blow high
And the snow come tumbling from the sky
She's as nice as apple pie
And she'll get her own lad [boy] by and by
When she gets a lad of her own
She won't tell her ma when [till] she comes home
Let them all come as they will
For it's Albert Mooney she loves still
(Chorus)
I'll tell me ma, when I go home
The boys won't leave the girls alone
They pulled my hair, they stole my comb
But that's alright, 'til I go home
She is handsome, she is pretty
She is the belle of Belfast city
She is a-courting one, two, three
Please, won't you tell me who is she?
(Repeat chorus 2x)
Video Links
Belle of Belfast City (Irish Rovers). Also here. The first link includes lyrics on the screen. The second link includes this additional verse:
A-skipping she's the best of all
She never slips, she never falls
Double Dutch or Heel and Toe
She's the one that steals the show
When they all come out to play
She's the one that leads the way
And Albert Mooney's always there
To see the girl with the golden hair.
Sham Rock. This one goes pretty fast. The video shows a variety of people dancing in a pub, including, apparently, Elvis.
Abby Ulveland and Possibly Irish. Fun video, very family-friendly.
Bonus Video: Angelo Kelly and Family. This is what it looks like when families sing together!
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