Lyr Add: Red-Haired Mary

Subject: Red Haired Mary: Lyrics Needed
From:
Date: 31 Jul 97 - 02:33 PM

Hi, I'm looking for the words to Red Haired Mary. I know the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem recorded it on their reunion album. Thanks for your help, Paul MacNeill

Subject: Lyr Add: RED-HAIRED MARY
From: Tim Rossiter
Date: 31 Jul 97 - 04:19 PM

RED-HAIRED MARY

As I was going to the fair at Dingle
One fine morning last July
When going down the road before me,
A red-haired girl I chance to spy.
Well I went up to her, says I, "Young lady,
Me donkey, he will carry two;"
And she looked at me, her eyes a-twinkle,
and cheeks they were a rosy hue.

"Well I thank you kindly, sir," she answered,
And then she tossed her bright hair,
"Now seein' that you've got your donkey,
I will ride with you to the Dingle Fair."
But when we reached the fair at Dingle,
I took her hand for to say good-bye,
When a tinkerman stepped up beside me
And he struck me right in my left eye!

Chorus:
"Keep your hands off red-haired Mary!
Her and I are to be wed.
We're seein' the priest this very morning,
And tonight we lie in a marriage bed."

Now I was feeling kind of peevish,
And me poor old eye was sad and sore,
So I tapped him lightly with me hobnails,
And he flew back through Tim Murphy's door!

Then a policeman, he came 'round the corner,
And he told me I had broke the law.
Then me donkey kicked him in the ankle,
And he fell down and broke his jaw.

Now this red-haired girl, she kept on smiling.
She said, "Young sir, I'll go with you instead.
We'll forget the priest this very morning,
And tonight we'll sleep in Murphy's shed."

Subject: Lyr Add: RED-HAIRED MARY (Sean McCarthy)
From: Wolfgang Hell
Date: 20 Nov 97 - 10:48 AM

This traditional Irish song I know from a track on a more than twenty-year-old tape. I don't know the group's name (can't be a well-known group therefore). The lyrics have been checked and amended by a native English speaker.

Wolfgang

RED-HAIRED MARY
(Sean McCarthy)
(Traditional Irish)

1. I was going to the fair in Dingle
One fine morning last July
When going down the road before me,
A red-haired girl I chanced to spy.

2. Well I stepped up to her, says I, "Young lady,
Now me donkey, he will carry two;"
She looked at me, her eyes a-twinkle,
And her cheeks they were a rosy hue.

3. "Well, thank you kindly, sir," she answered,
Then she tossed her bright hair,
"Well seein' as how you've got your donkey,
I'll ride with you to the Dingle Fair."

4. Ah, but when we reached the fair in Dingle,
I took her hand for to say good-bye,
When a tinkerman moved up close beside me
And he hit me right in my left eye!

[for the first time:] Chorus: "Keep your hands off red-haired Mary!
Her and will soon be wed.
We're seeing the priest this very morning
And tonight we lie in the marriage bed."

5. Oh, the way was feeling kind a peevish,
And me poor old eye felt sad and sore,
So I tapped him gently with me hobnails
And he flew back through Tim Murphy's door.
Chorus

6. Then a policeman came around the corner,
Told me I had broke the law.
Then me donkey kicked him in the ankle,
And he fell down and smashed his jaw.
Chorus

7. But the red-haired girl, she kept on smiling,
"Ah, young man, I'll come with you," she said,
"We'll forget the priest this very morning,
And tonight we'll sleep in Murphy's shed."
Chorus

Subject: RE: ADD: Red-haired Mary
From: Martin Ryan
Date: 20 Nov 97 - 12:15 PM

Wolfgang

Great song, this. I should know who wrote it - its about 30-40 yrs. old.It'll come back to me (Mc Carthy...?)

Martin

Subject: RE: ADD: Red-haired Mary
From: Jaxon
Date: 20 Nov 97 - 04:22 PM

I have a great version of The Clancy Brothers doing this with Liam on lead. I'll check out the rlease and author tonight.

Jack Murray

Subject: RE: ADD: Red-haired Mary
From: alison
Date: 20 Nov 97 - 06:31 PM

Hi,

Yes Martin, it was Sean McCarthy from Kerry.

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: ADD: Red-haired Mary
From: MR
Date: 21 Nov 97 - 06:33 AM

The Clancys and Tommy Makem had a final verse while strollin through the fair together my black eye and her red hair smilin' gaily on the tinkers begod we were a handsome pair

Subject: RE: ADD: Red-haired Mary
From:
Date: 22 Nov 97 - 07:45 PM

Didn't the Dubliners sing this too?

Subject: Lyr Add: RED-HAIRED MARY (Clancy)
From:
Date: 20 Sep 98 - 08:25 PM

Following is the Clancy's version (well, one of them, anyway) of Red-Haired Mary. I found it differed significantly enough from the DT version that I felt I should contribute it. =)

RED-HAIRERD MARY
(Sean McCarthy)

I was goin' to the fair in Dingle
One fine mornin' last July
When goin' down the road before me
A red-haired girl I chanced to spy

I went up to her, said "ah -- young lady
my donkey it can carry two".
"Well seein' as how you have a donkey
to the Dingle Fair I'll ride with you."

Now when we reached the town of Dingle
I took her hand to say goodbye
When a tinker man stepped up beside me
And he belted me in my left eye

Chorus:
Keep your hands off red-haired Mary
Her and I will soon be wed
We'll see the priest this very mornin'
And tonight we'll lie in a married bed

Now I was feelin' kinda peevish
And me poor old eye was sad and sore
So I gently tapped him with me hobnails
And he fell back through Murphy's door

(Chorus)

A policeman came around the corner
And he told me I had broke the law
Well my donkey kicked him in the kneecap
And he fell down and broke his jaw

(Chorus)

Then he went off to find his brother
The biggest man you ever did meet
And he tapped me gently with his knuckles
And I was minus two front teeth

(Chorus)

Now the red-haired girl she kept on smiling
"I will go with you, young man," she said.
We'll forget the priest this very morning
And tonight we'll lie in Murphy's shed

Alt chorus: Keep your hands off red-haired Mary
Her and I will soon be wed
We'll forget the priest this very mornin'
And tonight we'll lie in Murphy's shed

Now thro' the fair we roamed together
My black eye and her red hair
Smiling gaily at the tinkers
And b'god! We were a handsome pair!

(Alt Chorus)