Req: Little Ram's Island/Ballinderry / Balinderry

30 Jul 01 - 11:53 AM (#517701)
Subject: And mp3 hopefully 'Little Ram's Island'
From: PaulBobbyBuzz

Hi all. Not sure of some of this but here goes. I think the tune is called "Little Ram's Island", & I believe it's Irish, 'cause the first verse goes: " Tis pretty to be in Balenderry, " 'Tis pretty to be in Lough-ha-lee"

(that last, I'm sure, is the name of another town. I don't really know how to spell it but that's the phonetics of it. ) actually I don't know how to spell Balenderry either, but I've heard of it. Continuing:

" 'Tis prettyer still on Little Ram's Island Sitting under an old apple tree" Thanks for any help PBB

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30 Jul 01 - 12:29 PM (#517729)
Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: And mp3 hopefully 'Little Ram
From: Sorcha

It's at Contemplator, here

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30 Jul 01 - 01:17 PM (#517774)
Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: And mp3 hopefully 'Little Ram
From: PaulBobbyBuzz

Sorcha, that's it thanks PBB

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20 Dec 11 - 11:00 AM (#3277145)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Ram's Island? / Ballinderry
From: Jim Dixon

The title is BALLINDERRY. There's a thread about it here:

Lyr Add: Ballinderry

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24 Aug 20 - 07:13 PM (#4069499)
Subject: Lyr Req: Balinderry
From: Joe Offer

Anybody got a good set of lyrics for "Tis pretty to be in Balinderry."

I can't find it posted here.

tis pretty to be in Ballinderry
tis pretty to be in Aghalee Tis bonnier still in bonny Rams Island, sitting forever beneath a tree Och ón, och ón
for often I sailed to bonny Rams Island

arm in arm with Phelimy Diamond / He would whistle and I would sing/and we would make the whole island ring // twas pretty to be in bonny Rams Island, Now it's as sad as sad can be/For the ship that sailed with Phelimy Diamond/ Is sunk forever beneath the sea. - I think Sara Makem sang Bonny Ram's Island. Tommy Makem certainly did.

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24 Aug 20 - 07:44 PM (#4069503)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ballinderry
From: Felipa

you missed a line, Joe. It's often I sailed to Bonny Ram's Island arm in arm with Phelimy Diamond
and I missed a verse. I don't know if this is exactly what the singer performed on the Mudcat session

'Twas pretty to be in Ballinderry,
'Twas pretty to be in Aghalee
Still prettier to be on bonny Ram's Island
Sitting forever beneath a tree.
For often I sailed to bonny Ram's Island,
Arm in arm with Phelimy Diamond [or Phelim, my diamond?]
He would whistle and I would sing,
And we would make the whole island ring.

"I'm going," he said, "from bonny Ram's Island
Out and across the deep blue sea,
And if in your heart you love me, Mary,
Open your arms at last to me."

'Twas pretty to be in Ballinderry
But now it's as sad as sad can be,
For the ship that sailed with Phelimy Diamond,
Is sunk forever beneath the sea.

chorus/caoin (keen)
ochón, ochón, ochón, ochón [alas]

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Rams Island is in Lough Neagh in the north of Ireland, so I suppose it is very small

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24 Aug 20 - 09:54 PM (#4069515)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Balinderry
From: allanwill

My interpretation, as I hear it, of the song as sung by David Hammond.

'Tis pretty to be in Ballinderry
'Tis pretty to be Aghalee.
But it's prettier to be in Bonny Rams Island
a'sitting forever beneath a tree.

Ach-hone, Ach-hone
Ach-hone, Ach-hone

For often I wandered through Bonny Rams Island,
arm in arm with Phelim my demon.
And he would whistle and I would sing
and we would make the whole island ring.

Ach-hone, Ach-hone
Ach-hone, Ach-hone

Once I was happy in Bonny Rams Island,
but now 'tis sad, 'tis sad could be.
The ship that carried Phelim my demon
is buried forever beneath the sea.

Ach-hone, Ach-hone
Ach-hone, Ach-hone

Allan

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25 Aug 20 - 05:31 AM (#4069543)
Subject: RE: Req: Little Ram's Island/Ballinderry / Balinderry
From: Richard Mellish

"'Tis pretty to be in Ballinderry" is the title of Roisín White's book and double CD tribute to Robert Cinnamond: see here

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25 Aug 20 - 11:04 AM (#4069586)
Subject: RE: Req: Little Ram's Island/Ballinderry / Balinderry
From: leeneia

I learned this song from William Cole's 'Folk Songs of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales', a book you may find in your public library. The song has only two verses, and the lover is called Phelemy Diamond. I've changed Phelemy to Jeremy, because people recognize Jeremy as a name, while Phelemy creates the impression we are talking about a fella-me-diamond.

Several years ago we visited a churchyard in Bantry, Ireland, and noticed the huge pines festooned with ivy. The version I sing has the line

"sitting under an ivy tree"

and having seen trees cloaked in ivy, I feel comfortable singing it that way.
==========
'Tis pretty to be in Ballinderry
'Tis pretty to be Aghalee.
'Tis prettier to be in Bonny Ram's Island
sitting under an ivy tree.

Ach hone, ach hone (however you spell that.)

Oh that I were on Bonny Ram's Island.
Oh that I were with my Jeremy Diamond.
He would whistle and I would sing
till we would make the whole island ring.

Ach hone, ach hone
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This makes a lovely tune for the fretted dulcimer. I keep repeating the notes for "ach hone, ach hone" more and more softly, to sound like distant church bells. The DT page has the sheet music for this.

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25 Aug 20 - 09:11 PM (#4069643)
Subject: RE: Req: Little Ram's Island/Ballinderry / Balinderry
From: allanwill

Aha! - thanks leeneia; I didn't think "Phelim my demon" was right but that is what I hear. I still do, even now I know the correct words!

Allan

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25 Aug 20 - 11:05 PM (#4069656)
Subject: RE: Req: Little Ram's Island/Ballinderry / Balinderry
From: leeneia

You're very welcome.

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