FTX-072 - I'LL TELL ME MA

STREET SONGS OF BELFAST CITY

HUGH QUINN, (1884-1956) presents a lifetime's collection of street song, mill- chants and children's rhymes together with his own enthusiastic explanations. Hugh started out as an "infant teacher monitor" at Milford Street School. He heard the songs and games, mostly in the 1890's, remembered them, and, shortly before his death, recorded them for Peter Kennedy, in 1955, at the age of 71. He wrote to Peter: "Alas they are heard no more save for a few lingering echoes, which survive like the dying notes of a bugle" Also includes NAN SHAW, JAMES J.WHITLEY & THE BELFAST GIRL SINGERS recorded in 1948

1. I'LL TELL ME MA WHEN I COME HOME - 1'48"

2. Talk about his own interest in the songs - 1'25"

3. I'LL TELL ME MA - Nan Shaw & girls - 0'52"

4. YOU MIGHT EASILY KNOW A DOFFER - 1'39"

5. WE ARE THE ROVERS - talk before - 0'26"

6. THE DOFFIN MISTRESS - talk before - 3'16"

7. Talk about mill-workers, doffers & hecklers - 2'16"

8. THE DOFFIN MISTRESS - Nan Shaw & girls - 1'48"

9. "B" FOR BARNEY - with talk - 1'41"

10. I AM THE WEE FALORIE MAN - talk before about pack-man - 1'06"

11. I AM THE WEE FALORIE MAN - sung by James J.Whitley - 0'46"

12. THE POOR WOMAN FROM SANDY ROW - talk before - 1'58"

13. THE POOR WOMAN FROM SANDY ROW Girls in unison - 0'38"

14. I CAME TO SEE JENNY JO - talk after - 2'03

15.. WILL YOU WALLACE? - talk after - 1'47"

16. THE FLOWERY GARDEN (The Broken Token)- 2'11"

17. HI-TIDDLY-AYE-TYE, MY SON JOHN - 1'11"

18. LOVE IS PLEASIN' - talk after - 2'03"

19. OUR QUEEN UP THE RIVER - talk before - 1'17"

20. DARKIE JOE'S SONG/ THE OTHER QUEEN - with talk - 1'09"

21. RIDING ON A DONKEY - 0'22"

22. OUR QUEEN CAN BIRL HER LEG - talk after - 2'01

23. LIZZIE MOORE - Sea Song - talk before - 1'32"

24. HERE SHE STANDS A LOVELY CREATURE - talk bef & aft - 1'34"

25. LAY ON THEM, BROGIE MOR -talk before - 2'01"

26. O DOCTOR, DEAR DOCTOR (THE SICK LOVER) - talk after - 1'51"

27. THE KNIFE-GRINDER'S CHANT - talk after - 1'17"

28. WHAT IS MARY WEEPING FOR? - talk after - 2'36"

29. THE BLACKBIRD (Died for Love) - with talk - 1'37"

30. O GO YE IN BY YONDERS TOWN - talk before - 2'10"

31.O GO YE IN BY YONDERS TOWN - girls in unison - 1'15"

32. FIVE O'CLOCK STRIKING - 0'35"

33. SEE ME DANCE THE POLKA - talk after - 1'12"

34. THERE WERE THREE LORDS - with talk - 2'06"

35. HE SAID HE WAS FROM THE CO TYRONE - talk before - 1'57"

36. ALL ROUND THE LONEY-O - Nan Shaw solo - 1'35"

37. ALL ROUND THE LONEY-O - talk before - 3'37"

38. THE GALLANT FORTY TWA - James & girls - 2'02"

39. THE SAILOR BOY (The Broken Token) Nan & James (duet) - 1'53

Recorded by Peter Kennedy in Belfast 1948 & 1955. Edited by Peter Kennedy & first published on Folktrax Cassettes 1975.

Hugh QUINN spent all his life in the Falls Road area of Belfast, as a schoolmaster and in his spare-time writing plays drawing on the locality. Best known were "Mrs Conaghy's Money" and "The Quiet Twelth", performed by the Group Theatre in Belfast and the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. Some of his articles and writings can be found in the Linen Hall Library in Belfast.