Somebody posted Mary's Reply back in 2001, without the "stage Irish" of the sheet music.

Thread #30665   Message #394854
Posted By: Michael in Swansea
10-Feb-01 - 06:15 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: Mary's Reply (to Mountains of Mourne)
Subject: ADD: Mary's Reply (to Mountains of Mourne)^^

Idly browsing the DT, I noticed the Mountains of Mourne listed but not Mary's reply so here it is. Same tune.

MARY'S REPLY

Dear Shamus, I've learned all your letter by heart
I've read it so often, I know every part
For when it arrived everybody here knew
And they all came to hear the good tidings from you
I need not explain that I missed out the part
Where you put little crosses and words like sweetheart
For my heart said to me, "You must read them alone
By the light of the moon by the Mountains o' Mourne"

I told them you'd met England's King and all that
And he recognised you by raising his hat
But I didn't explain that the cause of the fuss
Was you seeing him from the top of a bus
But the part they liked best sure, is where you confess
That in spite of the glamour and all your success
Your thoughts often wander to where you were born
And you long to be back by the Mountains of Mourne

It's good of you Shamus to send me that dress
But the size of the waist - tell me how did you guess?
Sure it fits me so tight, that Kate, in bad taste
Said your arm must have measured some other one's waist
If I thought that were true, now I think I should die
But the girls are so jealous - perhaps it's a lie
And maybe you'd guessed from the dress that I'd worn
When we walked, arms linked by the Mountains o' Mourne

Some great things have happened, of course, since you went
Kate's got a young man - that's the greatest event
He's employed at a gunpowder works, by the way
And he may get a rise any minute, they say
Her parents don't think his position's secure
And forbade her to see the poor lad anymore
But for what notice Kate takes I'll be sworn
They might as well talk to the Mountains o' Mourne

Oh, Shamus, I don't want to spoil your career
But God knows I wish you were back agin here
Sure it's lonely, avic, waiting day after day
For one face that, alas, never passes this way
But don't think I'm pining, you're better, 'tis true
Say you'll wait for the wild rose - and I'll wait for you
Though friendship may comfort, yet love is forlorn
While waiting for you by the Mountains o'Mourne

Collected by Nellie Walsh for Ireland's Own magazine
MJR ^^