Tis pretty to be in Ballinderry,

Pretty to be in Aucholee*

'Tis prettier to be on bonny Ram's Island

A-sitting forever beneath a tree.

Ochone, ochone

Ochone, ochone.



For often I sailed to bonny Ram's Island,

Arm in arm with Phelim, my demon.**

He would whistle and I would sing,

And we would make the whole island ring.

Ochone, ochone

Ochone, ochone.



"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."

Ochone, ochone

Ochone, ochone.



'Twas pretty to be in Ballinderry

But now it's as sad as sad can be,

For the ship that sailed with Phelim, my demon,

Is sunk forever beneath the sea.

Ochone, ochone

Ochone, ochone.



* No one can seem to agree on the name of this place. My sources

give "Aucholee," "Aghalee," and "Ahalee."

** Or perhaps "Phelim, my diamond." Another text reads simply

"Phelim, my love."



Recorded by the Clancy Brothers, by John Langstaff on "Let's Make

Music" (omitting the third verse), and by Bok/Trickett/Muir on

"The Language of the Heart" (with an admission that they didn't

know the correct words). RW