A ring is formed by the children joining hands, one player standing in the centre.

When asked, "Please tell me who they be," the girl in the middle gives the name or initials of a boy in the ring (or vice versa).

Chorus: She is handsome, she is pretty She is the belle of Belfast city She is a-courting one, two, three Pray, can you tell me who is she?

The song has been covered on numerous albums, some of which have adapted the lyrics to their locales.

[4] Sham Rock released a popular rendition of the song set to a dance beat titled "Tell Me Ma" in 1998.