Origin: I'll Tell Me Ma

Subject: RE: Help: I TELL ME MA
From: Greyeyes
Date: 15 Nov 00 - 08:08 PM

I have a recording of the Dubliners sounding distinctly like "old Johnny Morrissey". The extra syllable (as opposed to "Murray") making the rhythm seem more comfortable, (old Johnny Morrissey says she'll die, If she doesn't get a feller with a roving eye".

Subject: RE: Help: I TELL ME MA
From: paddymac
Date: 15 Nov 00 - 07:26 PM

We use it as our opening number because it's up-tempo and easy to get the audience "into." Seems to get the gig off to a good start.

Subject: RE: Help: I TELL ME MA
From: GUEST,celticblues5
Date: 15 Nov 00 - 10:07 AM

A great, fun song. (It's probably just my malfunctioning ears, but when I've heard it, the name sounded like "Anthony Murray" to me.) A couple of others who have recorded it (there are probably dozens) are the Rankin Family & the Irish Rovers.

Subject: RE: Help: I TELL ME MA
From: DonMeixner
Date: 14 Nov 00 - 11:08 PM

I have a video of Tommy makem and Barley Bree doing a version of it with about 10 verses. They only get to the well known verses at the end and sing Jenny Murray.

They said it was the only song that both the Holy Sisters and the Anglican brothers taught in school with equal pleasure, Or lack there of.

Don

Subject: RE: Help: I TELL ME MA
From: Snuffy
Date: 14 Nov 00 - 08:03 PM

It's not just Irish - it's traditional throughout the whole of Britain.

In NW England in the 50s we sang "she is the girl of the golden city", and if you look up "The Wind, The Wind" in the Digital Tardition database you'll find no less than 6 versions from Scotland.

Wassail! V

Subject: RE: Help: I TELL ME MA
From: Wavestar
Date: 14 Nov 00 - 08:02 PM

Fionn, my version has old Jenny Murphy instead...

-J

Subject: RE: Help: I TELL ME MA
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 14 Nov 00 - 07:38 PM

An anonymous street song, as far as I know. Anywhere I've seen it printed, the point has been made that the lyrics can be adapted to any Irish town - but having said that, they all then stick with "she is the belle of Belfast city."

Seems to be Albert Mooney who has her heart in most versions - but not in the Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem Song Book (Oak Publications, New York 1964), which (perhaps accidentally) misses that line out altogether. Anyone seen/heard anyone other than "old Johnny Murray" in the penultimate line of the second verse?

I suppose many do associate the song with the Clancys, but for me it brings to mind a pair that Noreen and others and I once discussed elsewhere, Jackie and Bridie.

Subject: RE: Help: I TELL ME MA
From: Wavestar
Date: 14 Nov 00 - 07:34 PM

That's the one, Liz... I know very little about it, Achim B., except that it's a fun, quick paced song. Hmmm... let me do a little looking at what books I have... Right, it says, "A Belfast skipping street song." Presumably this is what children sang when they played in the streets, and it sounds about right to me. Oh, you wanted detail? *sigh*...

-J

Subject: RE: Help: I TELL ME MA
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 14 Nov 00 - 06:58 PM

Do you mean the one about the boys won't leave the girls alone??

LTS

Subject: I TELL ME MA
From: GUEST,ACHIM B.
Date: 14 Nov 00 - 06:30 PM

Hello, does anybody know something about the song "I'll tell me ma?" Specially the social and historical background is interesting.

Thanx!