I'll Tell Me Ma

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"I'll Tell Me Ma"
Song
"I'll Tell Me Ma"
File:VanMorrisonTheChieftainsSingle.JPG
Single by Van Morrison and The Chieftains
from the album Irish Heartbeat
A-side "I'll Tell Me Ma"
B-side "Tá Mo Chleamhnas Déanta"
Released 1988
Recorded December 1987-January 1988
Genre Folk
Length 2:29
Label Mercury
Producer(s) Van Morrison, Paddy Moloney
Van Morrison and The Chieftains singles chronology
"Queen of the Slipstream"
(1988)
"I'll Tell Me Ma"
(1988)
"Have I Told You Lately"
(1989)
Irish Heartbeat track listing
"She Moved Through the Fair"
(5)
"I'll Tell Me Ma"
(6)
"Carrickfergus"
(7)

"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.[1] 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.[2] 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.[1]

Recordings and renditions

The song has been covered on numerous albums, some of which have adapted the lyrics to their locales.

One of the more notable renditions was by Van Morrison and The Chieftains, for their collaboration record Irish Heartbeat in 1988;[3] the album reached number 18 on the UK Albums Chart. The song was guest-sung by Ronnie Drew of The Dubliners on The Chieftains album Live From Dublin: A Tribute To Derek Bell in 2005. The Chieftains also played the song with Cartoon Network character Brak for the latter's variety show special, Brak Presents the Brak Show Starring Brak and related album in 2000.[4]

Sham Rock released a rendition of "Tell Me Ma" in 1998.[5] The single reached number 13 on the UK Singles Chart,[6] remained on the charts for 17 weeks, and sold over 200,000 copies. It has been included on various compilation albums that have sold a total of over 3 million copies.[5]

Other notable recordings include:

Parodies

References

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External links