I'll Tell My Ma/I'll Tell My Cat
I'll Tell My Ma
Lyrics and music Traditional
(Performed by Howl-O on Disc O' Peers)
(Performed by Jim Hancock & Friends on Sing We Enchanted)
(Performed by The Poxy Boggards on Whiskey Business)
I'll tell my ma when I go home
The boys won't leave the girls alone.
They pulled my hair and stole my comb,
But that's alright 'til I go home.
She is handsome. She's so pretty.
She's the bell of Belfast City.
She is courting 1, 2, 3,
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 ring the bell,
Saying, oh my true love, are you well?
Out she comes, 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 'til she comes home
Let them all come as they will
For it's Albert Mooney she loves still.
Background from Daniel Womack: According to Mickey Mulligan, this is an Irish traditional children's tune from the streets of Belfast. Children would form a circle and dance while singing this song. Actual date or author is unknown. All I have is 1600-1950. That's 350 years folks! Anyone care to narrow that down for me?
Yes we also have a parody to this song as well. Well, not so much a parody as a song to honor just one of the reasons we love cats so much.
Here's a few words from Marc Gunn: My tabby cats are indoor kitties. This means every week or so I have to pin my tabbys down to clip their nails, because I am not about to have them declawed. You try cutting off one of your fingers to the first knuckle and you'll know what I mean. Fortunately, my boys aren't nearly as bad as this little angel who shows her love by using those unclipped claws to shred every bit o' furniture in the house. This parody could also be called "The Pussywhipped Song."
I'll Tell My Cat
as performed by Marc Gunn & The Dubliners Tabby Cats
on Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers
Lyrics by Marc Gunn, music Traditional
I'll tell my cat when I come home
To "Leave the furniture alone."
She tore my sheets and shred my couch.
I'm tired of coming home a grouch.
But she is loving. She is pretty.
And I am so whipped by my kitty
Her claws catch my sleeve, rips 1, 2, 3
Please won't you leave the curtains be.
I tell her each morning that I love her.
But my shoes need laces so please don't chew 'em.
She mews real sweet then knocks over a candle
Now she's gnawing on my sandles.
Out of the bathroom she struts quite bold,
A roll of toilet paper clung to her toe.
I really wonder if I will kill her
When her mouth has feathers from my pillow.
Let the thunder storms crash all night long
She'll be too scared to rend my thong.
She may be shivering from fright,
But at least this weekend I'll have my tights.
I bought her a scratch post of her own
So she'll leave my living room alone.
But I come home to see only fluff and filling
If she hadn't just meowed, there'd be a killing
She is loving. She is pretty
And I am so whipped by my kitty
Her claws catch my sleeve, rips 1, 2, 3
I never liked those curtains anyway.
Background by Daniel Womack: Next to perhaps "Danny Boy" & "Londonderry Air", "Bell of Belfast" or more commonly known as "I'll Tell Me Ma" is the most popular traditional tune in Northern Ireland. Adaptations of the tune are sung by football and rugby fans, played by Protestant marching bands in July in parades celebrating of the Battle of Boyne, then played by catholics every August for similar ceremonies.
If there is anything I've missed, any information that you know to be incorrect, or if there is a song you've heard on the podcast that you would like to see included, please do not hesitate to contact me at lyrics@renaissancefestivalmusic.com.
Lyrics and music Traditional
(Performed by Howl-O on Disc O' Peers)
(Performed by Jim Hancock & Friends on Sing We Enchanted)
(Performed by The Poxy Boggards on Whiskey Business)
I'll tell my ma when I go home
The boys won't leave the girls alone.
They pulled my hair and stole my comb,
But that's alright 'til I go home.
She is handsome. She's so pretty.
She's the bell of Belfast City.
She is courting 1, 2, 3,
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 ring the bell,
Saying, oh my true love, are you well?
Out she comes, 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 'til she comes home
Let them all come as they will
For it's Albert Mooney she loves still.
Background from Daniel Womack: According to Mickey Mulligan, this is an Irish traditional children's tune from the streets of Belfast. Children would form a circle and dance while singing this song. Actual date or author is unknown. All I have is 1600-1950. That's 350 years folks! Anyone care to narrow that down for me?
Yes we also have a parody to this song as well. Well, not so much a parody as a song to honor just one of the reasons we love cats so much.
Here's a few words from Marc Gunn: My tabby cats are indoor kitties. This means every week or so I have to pin my tabbys down to clip their nails, because I am not about to have them declawed. You try cutting off one of your fingers to the first knuckle and you'll know what I mean. Fortunately, my boys aren't nearly as bad as this little angel who shows her love by using those unclipped claws to shred every bit o' furniture in the house. This parody could also be called "The Pussywhipped Song."
I'll Tell My Catas performed by Marc Gunn & The Dubliners Tabby Cats
on Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers
Lyrics by Marc Gunn, music Traditional
I'll tell my cat when I come home
To "Leave the furniture alone."
She tore my sheets and shred my couch.
I'm tired of coming home a grouch.
But she is loving. She is pretty.
And I am so whipped by my kitty
Her claws catch my sleeve, rips 1, 2, 3
Please won't you leave the curtains be.
I tell her each morning that I love her.
But my shoes need laces so please don't chew 'em.
She mews real sweet then knocks over a candle
Now she's gnawing on my sandles.
Out of the bathroom she struts quite bold,
A roll of toilet paper clung to her toe.
I really wonder if I will kill her
When her mouth has feathers from my pillow.
Let the thunder storms crash all night long
She'll be too scared to rend my thong.
She may be shivering from fright,
But at least this weekend I'll have my tights.
I bought her a scratch post of her own
So she'll leave my living room alone.
But I come home to see only fluff and filling
If she hadn't just meowed, there'd be a killing
She is loving. She is pretty
And I am so whipped by my kitty
Her claws catch my sleeve, rips 1, 2, 3
I never liked those curtains anyway.
Background by Daniel Womack: Next to perhaps "Danny Boy" & "Londonderry Air", "Bell of Belfast" or more commonly known as "I'll Tell Me Ma" is the most popular traditional tune in Northern Ireland. Adaptations of the tune are sung by football and rugby fans, played by Protestant marching bands in July in parades celebrating of the Battle of Boyne, then played by catholics every August for similar ceremonies.
If there is anything I've missed, any information that you know to be incorrect, or if there is a song you've heard on the podcast that you would like to see included, please do not hesitate to contact me at lyrics@renaissancefestivalmusic.com.
--posted by Daniel Womack of the Brobdingnagian Bards
8:55 PM
