THE TOWN OF BALLYBAY
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Time
signature: 4/4 |
Composer: Tommy Makem
Perhaps based on a traditional folk-dance tune UNDER CONSTRUCTION:
Everything needs to be checked. |
Accordion Notation
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Beats per bar = 4
Beat symbol = Dot ( . ) or equivalent |
Either row = Buttons 3 to 6 |
Verse 1 (of 6)
"4 "4* | "5 "4 "3 "3* ;4 "4* | "5 "4 "3 "3* "4 .3*
In the town of Bal-ly-bay, there was a las-sie dwel-lin'
"4 | "5 "4 "3 "3* .4 "4 "4* | "5 "5* "5 "4* "4 .3
I knew her ver - y well, and her sto-ry's worth - a - tel-lin'.
"5* | "6 "6 "6 "6 ;6* "6* | "6 "6 "6 "6 "6* "5 "5
Her fa-ther kept a still, and he was a good dis-til-ler,
"5 | "6 "6 "6 "6* "5* "5* "5* "5* | "5 "5* "5 "4* "4 "3
But when she took to drin-kin' well the de-vil woul-dn't fill 'er.
Chorus & instrumental interlude:
"4 "4* | "5 "4 "3 "3* ;4 "4* | "5 "4 "3 "3* "4 "3* "3*
Wish me ring - a - ding - a - dong, A - ring - a - ding - a - da - dy - o,
"4 | "5 "4 "3 "3* ;4 "4* | "5 "5* "5 "4* "4 "3 .3 |
A - ring - a - ding - a - dong, A whack fol - the - da - dy - o
Interlude - all or part of last line: | "5 "4 "3 "3* ;4 "4* | "5 "5* "5 "4* "4 "3 "3
Verse 3 (of 6)
"4 | "5 "4 "3 "3* ;4 "4* | "5 "4 "3 "3* "4 "3* "3*
She said she could - n't dance, be - cause she had her wel-lies on
"4 | "5 "4 "3 "3* .4 "4 "4* | "5 "5* "5 "4* "4 "3 "3
But when she took them off, she could dance as well as an - y - one
"5* | "6 "6 "6 "6 ;6* "6* | "6 "6 "6 "6 "6* "5 "5
She woul-dn't go to bed, un - less she had her shim-my on
"5 | "6 "6 "6 "6* "5* "5* "5* "5* | "5 "5* "5 "4* "4 "3
But when she had it on, she would go as quick as an - y - one
Hold final note of chorus/interlude at end of song.
"4 "4* | "5 "4 "3 "3* ;4 "4* | "5 "4 "3 "3* "4 .3*
In the town of Bal-ly-bay, there was a las-sie dwel-lin'
"4 | "5 "4 "3 "3* .4 "4 "4* | "5 "5* "5 "4* "4 .3
I knew her ver - y well, and her sto-ry's worth - a - tel-lin'.
"5* | "6 "6 "6 "6 ;6* "6* | "6 "6 "6 "6 "6* "5 "5
Her fa-ther kept a still, and he was a good dis-til-ler,
"5 | "6 "6 "6 "6* "5* "5* "5* "5* | "5 "5* "5 "4* "4 "3
But when she took to drin-kin' well the de-vil woul-dn't fill 'er.
Chorus & instrumental interlude:
"4 "4* | "5 "4 "3 "3* ;4 "4* | "5 "4 "3 "3* "4 "3* "3*
Wish me ring - a - ding - a - dong, A - ring - a - ding - a - da - dy - o,
"4 | "5 "4 "3 "3* ;4 "4* | "5 "5* "5 "4* "4 "3 .3 |
A - ring - a - ding - a - dong, A whack fol - the - da - dy - o
Interlude - all or part of last line: | "5 "4 "3 "3* ;4 "4* | "5 "5* "5 "4* "4 "3 "3
Verse 3 (of 6)
"4 | "5 "4 "3 "3* ;4 "4* | "5 "4 "3 "3* "4 "3* "3*
She said she could - n't dance, be - cause she had her wel-lies on
"4 | "5 "4 "3 "3* .4 "4 "4* | "5 "5* "5 "4* "4 "3 "3
But when she took them off, she could dance as well as an - y - one
"5* | "6 "6 "6 "6 ;6* "6* | "6 "6 "6 "6 "6* "5 "5
She woul-dn't go to bed, un - less she had her shim-my on
"5 | "6 "6 "6 "6* "5* "5* "5* "5* | "5 "5* "5 "4* "4 "3
But when she had it on, she would go as quick as an - y - one
Hold final note of chorus/interlude at end of song.
Guitar Chord Notation First Draft.
Key of G: To sound in key of Bb, place capo at fret 3, and play in key of G
Key of C: To sound in keys of D or Eb, place capo at fret 2, or 3, and play in key of C
Key of C: To sound in keys of D or Eb, place capo at fret 2, or 3, and play in key of C
Verse 1 (of 6):
Guitar Intro: G Em D7 G
C Am G7 C
G D7
C G7
In the town of Bal-ly-bay, there was a las-sie dwel-lin'
G D7 G
C G7 C
I knew her ver - y well, and her sto-ry's worth - a - tel-lin'.
D7 G D7
G7 C G7
Her fa-ther kept a still, and he was a good dis-til-ler,
G D7 G D7
C G7 C G7
But when she took to drin-kin' well the de-vil woul-dn't fill 'er.
Chorus:
G Em G D7
C Am C G7
Wish me ring - a - ding - a - dong, A - ring - a - ding - a - da - di - o,
G Em D7 G D7 G
C Am G7 C G7 C
A - ring - a - ding - a - dong, A whack for - the - da - di - o
Guitar Intro: G Em D7 G
C Am G7 C
G D7
C G7
In the town of Bal-ly-bay, there was a las-sie dwel-lin'
G D7 G
C G7 C
I knew her ver - y well, and her sto-ry's worth - a - tel-lin'.
D7 G D7
G7 C G7
Her fa-ther kept a still, and he was a good dis-til-ler,
G D7 G D7
C G7 C G7
But when she took to drin-kin' well the de-vil woul-dn't fill 'er.
Chorus:
G Em G D7
C Am C G7
Wish me ring - a - ding - a - dong, A - ring - a - ding - a - da - di - o,
G Em D7 G D7 G
C Am G7 C G7 C
A - ring - a - ding - a - dong, A whack for - the - da - di - o
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Embedded youTube VIDEOS
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Total of 8 videos and four keys: Bb=1 C=3 D=3 Eb=1
If you are not already familiar with the tune, you may find most of these performances quite fast. As a "less-advanced" player, I found it necessary initially to reduce the youTube speed to 75% or, in some cases, even 50%. It is a fun tune!
If you are not already familiar with the tune, you may find most of these performances quite fast. As a "less-advanced" player, I found it necessary initially to reduce the youTube speed to 75% or, in some cases, even 50%. It is a fun tune!
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Key: Bb
Singer: Seamus Moore Posted by: Seamus Moore - Topic |
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Key: C
Singer: Tommy Makem, with Liam Clancy Posted by: Vito Likavec |
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Key: C
Singer: Anthony (Tony) Archibald Posted by: threelegsoman From the Isle of Man |
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Key: C
Singer: Seamus Kennedy Posted by: Seamus Kennedy - Topic The singer repeats first verse, followed by chorus, to end the song. |
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Key: D
Singer: Jim McCann Posted by: Ireland1 Music, starting with the chorus, begins at time 2:06 |
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Key: D
Singer: Raymond Crooke Posted by: raymondcrooke |
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Key: D
Group: Pub Crawl ? Posted by: ? Singing, starting with the chorus, begins at time 1:10. The singer repeats first verse, followed by chorus, to end the song. |
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Key: Eb
Group: The Dublin City Ramblers Posted by: Celtic Note |
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Lyrics, Background Information & Links
LYRICS
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Verse 1
(of 6) Chorus Verse 3 (of 6) |
In the town of Ballybay, there was a lassie dwellin'
I knew her very well, and her story's worth-a-tellin'. Her father kept a still, and he was a good distiller, But when she took to drinkin' well the devil wouldn't fill 'er. Wish me ring-a-ding-a-dong, a-ring-a-ding-a-da-dy-o, A-ring-a-ding-a-dong, whack for the da-dy-o She said she couldn't dance, because she had her wellies on But when she took them off, she could dance as well as anyone She wouldn't go to bed, unless she had her shimmy on But when she had it on, she would go as quick as anyone |
Click HERE for one complete version of the lyrics and sheet music for Tommy Makem's lighthearted (some might say "raunchy") pub song. There are other slightly different versions.