Lyr/Tune Req: Song for the Mira (A MacGillivray)

Subject: Song for the Mira
From: Lil
Date: 19 Sep 98 - 10:03 PM

Hi,

We recently took a trip to Nova Scotia and saw the Mira River. I recalled a folk song about the Mira and remembered many of the words. I would like to get the complete lyrics. It doesn't seem to be on this database- does anyone have a website with the lyrics.

It starts: Out on the Mira on warm afternoons Old men go fishing with black line and spoon And if they catch nothing they never complain And I wish I was with them again.

I'd hate to teach it to others with the wrong words!

Thanks LIl

Subject: Looking for Lyrics to "Out On The Mira"
From:
Date: 02 Dec 98 - 12:15 AM

I've been searching unsuccessfully for the lyrics to a tradional song called "Out On The Mira". It is a recreation of a persons memory of a small village on the river "Mira". If I remember correctly, the chorus is "Can you imagine a piece of the universe, more fit for princes and kings. I'll trade you ten of your cities for Marion bridge, and the pleasure it brings." Any help would be great.

Thanx, Rob

Subject: RE: Looking for Lyrics to
From: DonMeixner
Date: 03 Dec 98 - 10:46 PM

The words can be found in the Foster and Allen song Book.

Subject: RE: Looking for Lyrics to
From: DonMeixner
Date: 03 Dec 98 - 10:52 PM

I just pulled the song out of the data base, "Search "Song for the Mira"

Subject: OUT ON THE MYRA
From: GUEST,TANYA
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 11:09 PM

HELP! I'M LOOKING FOR THE LYRICS TO A SONG I SANG WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL, I KNOW SOME OF THE WORDS BUT I'M MISSING A GREAT DEAL. MY CHILDREN LOVE IT WHEN I SING THIS SONG AND I WOULD LIKE TO TEACH IT TO THEM IN IT'S ENTIRITY. I WENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

VERSE OUT ON THE MYRA ON A WARM AFTERNOON, OLE MEN GO FISHIN' WITH BLACKLINE AND SPOONS......

CHORUS CAN YOU IMAGINE A PIECE OF THE UNIVERSE MORE MET FOR PRINCES AND KINGS.......

ANY HELP IS APPRECIATIED..... THX TANYA

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: OUT ON THE MYRA
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 11:17 PM

Tanya the song is in the DT files, It's called Song For The Mira. A favourite of mine Yours, Aye. Dave click here

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: OUT ON THE MYRA
From: GUEST,TANYA
Date: 04 Nov 00 - 01:48 PM

GREETINGS DAVE (THE ANCIENT MARINER)!

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HELP, IT WAS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR!

BEST WISHES, TANYA

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: OUT ON THE MYRA
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 04 Nov 00 - 02:08 PM

I'm glad to be of help Tanya. I enjoy singing it too. Marion Bridge is a lovely place in Cape Breton Island, Canada. Yours, Aye. Dave

Subject: out on the Mira
From: GUEST,Ron Edwards
Date: 05 Mar 01 - 09:56 PM

does any one have the words to "Out on The Mira"

Subject: Out On The Myra
From:
Date: 09 Oct 01 - 04:07 PM

Hey, I was wondering if anyone, out there anywhere has the lyrics for Out On the Myra, it's a great song and as a young Canadian I would like to keep this form of music alive, I heard it all growing up during family get togethers and would really be a great senitimate to me if someone could help me out. Thank-you very much!!

Subject: Song for the Myra
From:
Date: 17 Sep 02 - 04:36 PM

help please. I have just joined a group that sing a wonderful song called the Song for Myra - I believe it is from Nova Scotia. I would love to have the lyrics and if possible the tune. Who composed this - I can find no ref. on the web. Thanks, Dave.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Song for the Myra
From: GUEST,Argenine
Date: 17 Sep 02 - 04:43 PM

type "Mira" in the DT/Forum search and you'll find a couple of threads with the lyrics. Also look in the DT under "Mira."

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Song for the Myra
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Sep 02 - 04:45 PM

or click here

FWIW, I believe the original lyric was "...more fit for prophets and kings...," not "...princes and kings...."

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Song for the Myra
From:
Date: 17 Sep 02 - 04:51 PM

Thanks for the fantastic quick response. Now I see why people rave about Mudcat! Dave.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Song for the Myra
From: Genie
Date: 17 Sep 02 - 05:27 PM

We'd be glad to have you as a member, Dave. The price is right, too! *G*

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Song for the Myra
From: greg stephens
Date: 17 Sep 02 - 05:37 PM

Yes join up Dave.
And just a little question: how come youre in a group that sings the song, but youve come here for the words? Does the lead singer really mumble, and you dont like to ask him/her?

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Song for the Myra
From:
Date: 17 Sep 02 - 06:10 PM

Guest, as we told you last week, Allister MacGillivray wrote it as Princes and Kings, despite what you prefer to believe.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Song for the Myra
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Sep 02 - 10:19 PM

George, Sorry if I missed something, but I don't recall anyone telling me anything about this song last week. There is another thread about the song, and the last time I checked that thread, someone said they thought the line was "prophets." That was the basis for my post.

If someone posted information to the contrary after I ceased logging onto that thread, sorry for the error.

The important thing is that we get the lyric right. I have no preference one way or the other. (Or, if I do, I prefer "princes.")

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Song for the Myra
From:
Date: 17 Sep 02 - 11:41 PM

I just checked the older thread. It was Genie I was replying to and not yourself. Sorry!

I have heard most of the early singers of the song, and from those people and Allister MacGillivray's OWN songbooks Songs For the Mira (both the original and the new edition) have it as "Princes and Kings". If you heard it as prophets, then it is the same situation as with Sonny's Dream where you have a completely different version which was made popular in Ireland when a band came to Atlantic Canada, heard the song ONCE, and went back to Ireland and sang what he remembered.

Another similar case is Four Strong Winds, where Bobby Bare wrote a completely different song from hearing Ian Tyson's version on the radio while in his car.

---

George, the world wants to know those Bobby Bare "Four Strong Winds" lyrics. Click here for Four Strong Winds, and don't taunt us like that.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Song for the Myra
From: Genie
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 11:49 PM

Dave, here is the previous thread, Song For The Mira.

George, yes, it was I who raised the "prophets/princes" question in that thread, and I am glad you answered it in this thread. But, contrary to what you said in your earlier post, the only answer I got in the earlier thread was from Mary, who said she thought it was originally "prophets."

I'm very glad to know what McGillivray's original lyrics were, and I was singing it as "princes," based on hearing it on a tape by Bobby Murray, until I heard some other folks singing "prophets."

Genie

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Song for the Myra
From:
Date: 19 Sep 02 - 05:21 AM

Genie, if you look at the first line in my message you'll see I responded to your query about the prophets.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Song for the Myra
From: Genie
Date: 19 Sep 02 - 07:52 PM

George, I see now that you mentioned, "...Joe has it correct in his posting...". However, Mary said pretty much the opposite in the next post, so I don't think the matter was definitively settled in that thread. It is in this one though, and, again, thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Song for the Mira (A MacGillivray)
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Feb 12 - 10:45 PM

Just heard this song for the first time in a movie called New Waterford Girl which also had Ashley MacIsaac appear as the "town fiddler." From the credits it seems a lot of it was filmed in Cape Breton. I'd only give the movie about three stars as it seemed to drag a bit, but it was worth it to hear this song. Nice to see it here at Mudcat.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Song for the Mira (A MacGillivray)
From: meself
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 12:09 AM

There were some really nice bits in that film, and some pretty funny bits. And parts that were "true" - the scene in which that song is sung being a case in point - young people did stand around bonfires with drinks in their hands singing Song for the Mira ... maybe they still do. But some of it was ridiculous - I mean, the idea that any man of that time and place would step into a boxing ring with a woman is beyond preposterous ....

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: Song for the Mira (A MacGillivray)
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 07:36 PM

The film was not our greatest artistc effort by a long shot! The Song For The Mira remains very popular here.