The Dusty Bluebells – Children’s Playground Song and Dance.

by helenmcnulty | May 4, 2021 | Audio Recording, Children's Books, Irish Love Songs, Poetry, Rhymes, Songs, Stories for Children

Dusty Bluebells or I am the Master (traditional playground song) by Helen McNulty from Helen McNulty on Vimeo.

The Dusty Bluebells or I am the Master is Children's Playground song, sung widely in Ulster/ Northern Ireland. The words in this version are from the book by Sam Henry 'Songs of the People' a collection of Ulster songs. We sang this at school using slightly different words.

The words we sang were:
In and Out of the Dusty Bluebells,
In and Out of the Dusty Bluebells,
In and Out of the Dusty Bluebells,
Who Shall Be The Master?

Tipper ipper apper on your shoulder,
Tipper ipper apper on your shoulder,
Tipper ipper apper on your shoulder,
Who Shall Be The Master?.

According to Henry's book, this was an ancient Harvest song.

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