I'll Tell Me Ma
Sinead O'Connor · Sean-Nos Nua
The boys won't leave the girls alone.
They pull my hair, they stole my comb,
but that's alright till I go home.
She is handsome, she is pretty
She is the belle of Belfast 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 knock 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 and bells on her toes.
Oul Jenny Murray says she'll die,
If she don't get the fellow with the roving eye.
She is handsome, she is pretty
She is the belle of Belfast 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 tumblin' from the sky
She's as nice as apple pie
And 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 goes home
Let them all come as they will
For it's Albert Mooney she loves still.
She is handsome, she is pretty
She is the belle of Belfast city
She is courtin' one, two, three.
Please won't you tell me, who is she?
I'll Tell Me Ma
Sinead O'Connor's 1990 recording of 'I'll Tell Me Ma' stands as a defining moment in her career, blending punk energy with soulful depth. Released on her album *Sean-Nos Nua*, the track showcases her raw vocal delivery and unapologetic social commentary, characteristic of her work during the early 1990s. The song reflects her commitment to addressing political and religious themes with a direct, confrontational style that resonated globally. It exemplifies her ability to merge traditional Irish folk influences with modern rock and new wave aesthetics, creating a sound that was both commercially successful and critically acclaimed. This recording remains a staple of her discography, illustrating her evolution as an artist who prioritized authenticity and emotional honesty over conventional pop structures.