she is handsome, she is witty, she's the belle of

Subject: she is handsome, she is witty, she is the belle of
From: salsgal
Date: 15 Dec 98 - 03:23 PM

heard songs in irish pub--would like words/music(melody line only). phrases are: " she is handsome, she is witty, she is the belle of belfast city...." also looking for scottish song also heard in irish pub. phrases are" what they don't wear beneath their kilts..." another phrase from this one: "lad, i don't know where you been, but i see you won first prize". A BIG THANKS FOR ANY HELP

Subject: RE: she is handsome, she is witty, she is the bel
From: MMario
Date: 15 Dec 98 - 03:47 PM

A version of the first can be found in DT - search on [tell ma] in the box above. Include the square brackets!

The second is also in the DT - The Scotsman's kilt

I found it searching on "scotsman" (Without qoutes)

MMario

Subject: RE: she is handsome, she is witty, she is the bel
From: Bo
Date: 15 Dec 98 - 03:50 PM

Welcome Salsgal.

The song you want is called "Tell me ma".

You can find two copies of it in the Database by typing a phrase you remember from the song in the search field in the upper right of the web page. Surround the phrase with square brackets so the computer knows to find songs with all of the words.

eg. "[she is handsome]"

And the press 'search'

Gets your two songs. A lot of the songs allow you to play a melody. I think memory of how it sounds by singing people is far better but the web page can jog your memory.

I hope this helps.

Welcome again

Bo

Subject: Lyr Add: I'LL TELL MY MA
From: Reta
Date: 15 Dec 98 - 06:22 PM

I'LL TELL MY MA

I'll tell me Ma when I go home
The boys won't leave the girls alone.
They pulled my hair and they stole my comb.
Well, that's all right 'til I go home.
She is handsome. She is pretty.
She is the belle of Belfast City.
She is courting. One two three,
Please won't you tell me who is she?

Albert Mooney says he loves her.
All the boys are fighting for her.
They knock at the door and they ring the bell,
Saying, 'Oh, my true love, are you well?'
Out she comes as white as snow,
Rings on her fingers and bells on her toes.
Old Johnny Murray says she'll die
If she doesn't get the fellow with the roving eye.

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.
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.

Taken from SOODLUM'S SELECTION OF IRISH BALLADS.

I hope this is what you're looking for.

Regards and luck.

Reta

Subject: RE: she is handsome, she is witty, she is the bel
From: John Hindsill
Date: 15 Dec 98 - 07:39 PM

If you can find either/or, I'LL TELL MY MA can be found on "The Boys Won't Leave the Girls Alone" the Clancy Bros. & Tommy Makem, Columbia CS8709/CL1909; also as part of a medley, THE SINGING GAMES on the eponymously titled album, "The Corrie Folk Trio with Paddie Bell", Elektra Records EKS7291/EKL291. Both albums are from the early/mid '60s. Good hunting.

Subject: RE: she is handsome, she is witty, she is the bel
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 15 Dec 98 - 10:50 PM

Hi salsgirl,

I have heard your "First Prize" story as a joke. No music, no rhymes. Allan MacLeod and others tell it.

The Black Watch cam' doon tae London Toon for the big tatoo in Earrrrl's Coort. After the tatoo, the lads whent oot on the toon. Corporal MacTavish had more than the rest. As it cam' up tae currrrfew time, MacTavish wandered aff drunkenly frae his mates.

As the sun cam' up next morrrrnin' Corporal MacTavish was flat oot on a grassy bank in Hyde Parrrrk.

3 wee girrrrls were skippin' across the grass on their way to school. They stopped at the sight o' Corporal MacTavish.

Felicity said to Penelope and Tish, "What is it?"

"A soldier," said Tish.

"But he's wearing a little dress," said Felicity.

"Oh, silly, it's a Scottish kilt," said Penelope.

"What's underneath?" said Felicity.

"Oh, do lift and let's see," they all said.

Ever so carefully, the 3 girls lifted back the kilt to uncover his stallion. Felicity thought it silly but Tish took a blue ribbon from her bonnet and tied it around the stallion.

Hours later, MacTavish came to his senses. He struggled to his feet and sought relief behind a tree. As he lifted his kilt, there was his stallion with a blue ribbon tied around.

"Och, laddie, I dinnie know what ye werrrre up tae last night but I'm glad tae see ye won Firrrrst Prrrrize.

Just 1 piece of advice, lassie, give a thoucht before ye tell yer Ma!

All the best.

Subject: RE: she is handsome, she is witty, she is the bel
From: clansfolk
Date: 16 Dec 98 - 06:03 AM

This song has just been re-released in the UK and is (was) climbing up the charts!

The version is a slightly 'up-tempo' version of the original Folk version I learned from The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem way back in the '60s.

As previously mentioned the words (or version of) can be found in the Mudcat collection.

We have started singing it again due to its re-release and been quite amazed how many people didn't remember the original and we have actually been acused of singing 'Pop' songs - ah well.....

All the best for Christmas and the New Year,

Sing Well,

Pete (Clansfolk)

PS anyone in the area of the Falcon Folk Club - Poulton-le-Fylde. Nr. Blackpool. Lancashire. UK. on December 23rd. please call in to our Christmas Party - Loads of Songs - Food - Drinks - and a Friendly Bunch of Folkies!

Subject: RE: she is handsome, she is witty, she is the bel
From: Mike Billo
Date: 16 Dec 98 - 11:11 AM

The story of "The Scotsman" had been recorded by both Mike Cross (on Sugar Hill ) and Bryan Bowers( on Flying Fish).

Subject: RE: she is handsome, she is witty, she is the bel
From: Bert
Date: 16 Dec 98 - 11:15 AM

I remember kids singing ' She is handsome, she is pretty...' as a jump rope song in the late Forties. They kind of merged it into 'One, two, three O'Lairy'.

Bert.

Subject: RE: she is handsome, she is witty, she is the bel
From: rich r
Date: 16 Dec 98 - 04:17 PM

Not only recorded by Mike Cross, but WRITTEN by Mike Cross!

rich r

Subject: RE: she is handsome, she is witty, she is the bel
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 02:23 PM

Subject: ask her if she wants to stay awhile
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 02:36 PM

Subject: RE: she is handsome, she is witty, she is the bel
From: Cluin
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 02:45 PM

She is handsome, she is pretty,
She is the girl with the great big...

Subject: RE: she is handsome, she is witty, she is the bel
From: Emma B
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 03:48 PM

We played "The wind, the wind, the wind blows high
The rain comes scattering from the sky,
She is handsome, she is pretty etc."
as a girls circle game where the name of a local boy (usually the b******d who flung your school hat on the lampost) was said to love you
One two three O'leary was played as a ball game (against a wall) ending "10 O'leary overball".

Subject: RE: she is handsome, she is witty, she is the bel
From: Jim McLean
Date: 04 Jan 04 - 06:33 PM

I remember: One, two, three alearie, I saw Wallace Beery, sittin' on his bumble-eerie, kissin' Shirley Temple!
and
One, two, three alearie,
Haud ma ba' an Ah'll spin yer peerie!

Subject: I'll Tell Me Ma
From: GUEST,Dubs Fan
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 04:45 PM

The Young Dubliners recently released a version of this song on their album titled "with all due respect - the irish sessions" They of course sing belle of Dublin city, but the rest is the same traditional song and lyrics... with a rock spin.

Great song, great album, great band. www.youngdubs.com

Subject: RE: she is handsome, she is witty, she is the bel
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 05:11 PM

My giddy aunt. When I used to do a bit of singing with The Young Dubs, at the Irish Rover in Santa Monica (when they were just a duo, as it 'appens) they used to sing most of the songs on that CD. That would've been almost 20 years ago...

Crikey. Talk about a throwback. Keith always did enjoy a good singalong.

Subject: RE: she is handsome, she is witty, she's the belle of
From: oldhippie
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 05:57 PM

The Scotsman was also recorded by Oscar Brand.

Subject: RE: she is handsome, she is witty, she's the belle
From: Pioden
Date: 29 Mar 07 - 03:59 PM

Hi all-
I just sang that song for a group at my senior sing along gig this afternoon (a senior home in Grand Rapids, MI), during a late celebration of St. Pat's - They enjoyed it thoroughly, but a surprising number of them didn't recognize it. Sigh, yes, I live in the Dutch triangle. They also didn't recognize whiskey in the jar, or black velvet band, but liked them, too! It's never too late to go Irish (Celtic)!
Pioden

Subject: RE: she is handsome, she is witty, she's the belle of
From: GUEST,sinky
Date: 29 Mar 07 - 04:16 PM

she is handsome she is pretty
she loves the bell of conway twitty

Subject: RE: she is handsome, she is witty, she's the belle of
From: GUEST,CDG Dunblane
Date: 11 Feb 11 - 09:32 PM

The song is a variation on the Irish song "I'll Tell My Ma" and was written (I think) by Bill of the Corrie Folk Trio. I think it goes

The wind, the wind, the wind blows high
The snow comes fallin' frae the sky
And Jeannie MacPherson says she'll die
If she doesn't get the fellow wi' the rovin' eye

She is handsome, she is pretty
She is the girl from the Windy City
She has lovers one, two, three
Come and tell me who they be

That's all I remember as they continued into I'm nae ga'in to Paddie's Trip after the two verses above

Subject: RE: she is handsome, she is witty, she's the belle of
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 11 Feb 11 - 11:58 PM

Atwater-Donnelly have also recorded both songs.

Subject: RE: she is handsome, she is witty, she's the belle of
From: GUEST,Desi C
Date: 12 Feb 11 - 08:48 AM

Tis indeed called I'll Tell Me Ma, originated a Belfast school playground song, but was very popular in Kilkenny when I was growing up there. Full lyrics and chords can be found on the Martin dardis site www.unitedirelandtripod.ie and on most Irish song sites

Subject: RE: she is handsome, she is witty, she's the belle of
From: Bernard
Date: 12 Feb 11 - 09:36 AM

One of the serious songs written by Stanley Accrington is loosely based around this song, and is well worth a listen. The story is told from the perspective of the lad who failed to win her heart in the original song, and chances to see her on Falls Road some years later after she has married. maybe Albert Mooney, and has a baby in a pram and two small children in tow.

Cleverly, Stanley doesn't attempt to tie up the loose ends from the original story, but adds some more and leaves them all dangling!

Belfast City
Stanley Accrington

As I was walking down Falls Road
Revisiting my old abode
A familiar face I chanced to see
But she spoke no word to me

Chorus:
But she was handsome, she was pretty
She was the belle of Belfast City
She was courting one, two, three,
Oh, please won't you tell me who is she?

Along the road she pushed a pram
A couple of kids followed their mam
To see her there I was not prepared
So I simply stood and stared

Chorus

Once, she could choose from all the boys
Every week a different choice
And I had hoped her heart to melt
Too shy to tell her how I felt

Chorus

But if Albert Mooney that she wed
The lucky man to share her bed
But for firing guns he was put away
She'll not lie with him for many a day

Chorus

Well, I'll tell me ma when I get home
Who I saw as I did roam
Me ma will joke, me ma will jape,
Saying 'Thank your lucky stars for that escape!'

Chorus

Well, tomorrow I'll be on a plane
To get back to New York again
Only in my dreams will I see that face
From another time, another place

Chorus

At the kerb she stopped to cross
I stood there with a sense of loss
Just for a moment she caught my eye
But I turned away, walked on by

Chorus


The song is on Stanley's 'Promotion, Relegation' CD.