I was with my mother-in -law, Sheelagh Ronayne, yesterday and was reminded of songs she used to sing long ago.
When it came to the time for a song she had a mean version of Carrickfergus, which she always sang beautifully, but then another song she used to sing, but on less formal occasions, was the above, Hang on the Bell.
Now as far as I can remember she only sang the chorus of this song but, as all the story was contained in the chorus, this was fine by me.
It wasn’t until this morning that it struck me to look up the song on the internet.
Of course there it was.
Perhaps just a little dated and sentimental, but then you havn’t had the advantage of hearing my mother-in-law sing it.
The scene was in the jailhouse, and if curfew rang that night
The guy in number 13 cell would go out like a light.
She knew her Dad was innocent, so plucky Little Nell
Has tied her tender torso to the clapper on the bell.
Oh, hang on the bell, Nelly, hang on the bell
Your poor Father’s locked in a cold prison cell.
Swing to the left, Nelly swing to the right
Remember the curfew must never call tonight.
It all started when Nelly said, “No! No! No!” to Handsome Jack
And struggled as he tried to kiss her down by the railroad track;
Nell’s Dad rushed up to save her as the train came down the line,
And Jack fell back across the track and paid the price of crime.
Oh, hang on the bell, Nelly, hang on the bell
Your poor Father’s locked in a cold prison cell.
Swing to the left, Nelly swing to the right
Remember the curfew must never call tonight.
Nell’s Dad he got arrested, and brought up before the Law,
The Policeman said, “Old Handsome Jack ain’t handsome any more!”
Nelly cried and pleaded, but the jury did not care —
They didn’t have a sofa, so they offered him the chair.
Oh, hang on the bell, Nelly, hang on the bell
Your poor Father’s locked in a cold prison cell.
Swing to the left, Nelly swing to the right
Remember the curfew must never call tonight.
They pulled on the bell rope, but there was no ting-a-ling
They could not get their business done, for curfew would not ring!
To and fro aloft swung Nelly, as below they pulled and heaved,
When suddenly a voice cried “Stop! Your daddy’s been reprieved!”
Oh, hang on the bell, Nelly, hang on the bell
Your poor Father’s locked in a cold prison cell.
Swing to the left, Nelly swing to the right
Remember the curfew must never call tonight.
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