Ballinderry

Traditional

I learned this from the singing of Tommy Maken. Tommy gives no credit for it, so I assume it's traditional. We recorded this years ago for Folk Legacy Records in Sharon, Connecticut, and we're grateful to Sandy and Caroline Paton for letting us use it here. (GB)

'Tis pretty to be in Ballinderry

'Tis pretty to be in Ahalee

'Tis prettier to be in bonny Ram's Island

Sitting forever beneath a tree.

For often I've sailed to bonny Ram's Island

Arm and arm with Phelimy Diamond

And 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

Now it's as sad as sad can be

For the ship that sailed with Phelimy Diamond

Is sunk forever beneath the sea.

Ahone, ahone.

(Having no written source for this, the spelling is all our own.)

Balinderry is recorded on the album Language of the Heart