Origin: When You and I were Young Maggie

Subject: RE: Origin: When You and I were Young Maggie
From: PHJim
Date: 15 Mar 12 - 09:57 PM

In the mid-sixties I worked in Hagersville, but came home to Dundas on the weekends where I grew up. As I passed through Mount Hope, now annexed by Hamilton, there was a blue and gold (Ontario residents will know what I mean) historical site marker with the words "When You And I Were Young Maggie" and an explanation of the song's origins. It was explained in the Hamilton Spectator that the home where The Johnsons lived and where the song was written was now a private home and the sign was removed at the request of the owners who were being bothered by people stopping to take pictures and explore the property.
I have a wife named Maggie and I play this as a clawhammer banjo piece. The last verse is my favourite. Please forgive me for reposting it:

They say I am feeble with age, Maggie,
My steps are less spritely than then
My face is a well written page, Maggie,
But time alone was the pen.
They say we are aged and grey, Maggie,
As spray by the white breakers flung,
But to me you are fair as you were, Maggie,
When you and I were young.

My favourite vocal version is Tom Rush's.

Subject: RE: Origin: When You and I were Young Maggie
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 15 Mar 12 - 11:10 PM

I am wondering if the three grains of corn song, which preceeded this, might have been the pattern for it..there are very few songs I can think of that have that particular pattern..three grains of corn, this one and wait till the sun shines Nellie and wait till the clouds roll by Jenny.

Subject: RE: Origin: When You and I were Young Maggie
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Apr 26 - 08:32 AM

I remember looking the histiory of George Washington and could not believe he was from Canada. My mum who is allso called Margaret read this on my encyclopedia of music and found out that this song was there best remembered song. I was only in my teens and notning about trad rigins of very famous songs. Haeing the new internet and mudcat it makes it more easy to tell the story of when you and i were young maggie from how it was first picked up from canada and from all over the world this song came to be.

Subject: RE: Origin: When You and I were Young Maggie
From: sian, west wales
Date: 27 Apr 26 - 09:35 PM

PHJim, the area is about 45 minutes from my home town too. Johnson was from Binbrook, a neighbouring village to Glanford. He is still known as "The Bard of Binbrook" ... which was once a country store and a few houses but has now exploded into a major subdivision of Hamilton.

s,ww

Subject: RE: Origin: When You and I were Young Maggie
From: Sol
Date: 28 Apr 26 - 07:10 AM

Some time ago, I read in an Andy Stewart song book that the song originated in Hamilton, Ontario. The use of the word "creek" is quite telling as there are no creeks in the UK or Ireland (as far as I know).
It would appear that there are earlier variants, a common occurence when delving into old traditional songs & airs. 'The creek' mentioned may not appear in other versions.