This traditional children’s ditty came into being in the 19th century in England. Today it is a well-known pub-sing favorite, made popular by recordings from Van Morrison, The Chieftains, and Gaelic Storm, among others. In Ireland, the toe-tapping tune is often referred to as “The Belle of Belfast City,” although the town in which it is being sung is often slotted into the lyric. So bust out your tin whistles and guitars — you only need to know chords G, C, and D – and ready your voice… And a-one, and a-two…
I’ll tell my ma, when I go home
The boys won’t leave the girls alone
They pull my hair and stole my comb
And that’s all right till I go home
(Chorus)
She is handsome, she is pretty
She is the belle of Bellfast city
She is courtin’, 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 rap at the door and ring at the bell
Saying, “Oh my true love, are you well?”
Out she comes as white as snow
Rings on her fingers, bells on her toes
Old Jenny Murphy says she’ll die
If she doesn’t get the fellow with the roving eye
(Chorus)
She is handsome, she is pretty
She is the belle of Bellfast city
She is courtin’, one two three
Please won’t you tell me who is she?
Let the wind and the rain and the hail blow high
And the snow come pouring from the sky
She’s as nice as apple pie
And she’ll he 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
But it’s Albert Mooney she loves still
(Chorus)
She is handsome, she is pretty
She is the belle of Bellfast city
She is courtin’, one two three
Please won’t you tell me who is she?