Round and Round Goes the Gilly Gilly Ship

Round and round goes the gilly gilly ship, song / [six girls from Magilligan], singing in English

Round and round goes the gilly gilly ship, song / [six girls from Magilligan], singing in English

ITMA Reference	55089
Creator	Cunning, Sheila, singing in English ; Fleming, Ann, singing in English ; McDaid, Jacqueline, singing in English ; McDaid, Margaret, singing in English ; McDonnell, Olive, singing in English ; Sweeney, Ruby, singing in English
Contributor	Shields, Hugh, collector
Date	19 July 1969
Location	Eddie Butcher’s house, Aughil, Magilligan, Co Derry
Type	Sound
Extent	1 computer file (MP3 file, 53 sec.) : digital, stereo
Collection	Hugh Shields Collection
Subject	Ireland: Singing in English
Language	English
Publisher	Irish Traditional Music Archive
Copyright	Performers, Hugh Shields
Source	1042-ITMA-REEL [HS 6906]
Roud Number	12973
View in ITMA catalogue:	Go to catalogue

Notes

Riddle answer

Round and round goes the gilly gilly ship
And round and round goes she
The very last time that she goes round
She sinks to the bottom of the sea

Ten twenty thirty forty fifty sixty seventy eighty ninety a hundred

Sweep the house to the maid comes in
Sweep the house to the maid comes in
Sweep the house to the maid comes in

Y - O - U

This verse is repeated

Sung to the music of Three gipsies riding

Ten guineas to know her name
Know her name, know her name
Ten guineas to know her name
Her name is Olive M*******

Ten guineas to know his name
Know his name, know his name
Ten guineas to know his name
His name is Brian *******.

Notes from Hugh Shields

Chanted to play by a group of six young Magilligan girls. Other references may be found in A Gomme’s The traditional games of England, Scotland and Ireland (vol 2, 1964:422–23). Cf. FJ Child The English and Scottish popular ballads, 1882–98 (vol 5, 1904:150–1): sweep the house to: “till.”