Origin: Judas and Mary (Sydney Carter)

Subject: Judas&Mary (Sydney Carter) - trad tune?
From: GUEST,Ian cookieless
Date: 22 Mar 08 - 02:13 PM

Some years ago I listened to an album of trad. Irish songs and realised I was listening to a tune virtually identical to Sydney Carter's 'Judas & Mary' - perhaps his source for the tune? Frustratingly, I now cannot locate that trad. Irish song in my memory or my music collection. Anyone help, please?

Subject: RE: Judas&Mary (Sydney Carter) - trad tune?
From: Jim McLean
Date: 22 Mar 08 - 03:11 PM

Hi Ian,
Just aa quick thought, I think the original song had a line in it about 'The salt sea, the salt sea'.
It might jag a few memories.

Subject: RE: Judas&Mary (Sydney Carter) - trad tune?
From: Newport Boy
Date: 22 Mar 08 - 05:06 PM

Must be "Henry Martin" - Irish or elsewhere.

Phil

Subject: RE: Judas&Mary (Sydney Carter) - trad tune?
From: GUEST,Ian cookieless
Date: 23 Mar 08 - 02:58 AM

Jim, I think you're remembering a different song.

The first verse is:

Said Judas to Mary, 'Now what will you do
With your ointment so rich and so rare?'
'I'll pour it all over the feet of my Lord
And wipe it away with my hair', she said,
'Wipe it away with my hair'

Subject: RE: Judas&Mary (Sydney Carter) - trad tune?
From: GUEST,Ian cookieless
Date: 23 Mar 08 - 03:03 AM

Thanks, Newport Boy, Sydney Carter's tune is indeed very close to that of Henry Martin, so I cannot have recognised the similarity while listening to an Irish album. Oh for the memory I had in my youth.

Subject: RE: Judas&Mary (Sydney Carter) - trad tune?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 23 Mar 08 - 04:36 AM

I was thinking much the same thing, but more on the lines of 'oh for the Youth I had in my memory'...

LTS

Subject: RE: Judas&Mary (Sydney Carter) - trad tune?
From: GUEST,Ian cookieless
Date: 23 Mar 08 - 04:51 AM

Yes, Liz, I wish I had both!

Subject: RE: Judas&Mary (Sydney Carter) - trad tune?
From: Jim McLean
Date: 23 Mar 08 - 07:00 AM

Hi Ian, What I meant was the lyrics to the tune Sydney used had 'salt sea, salt sea' within them and this is borne out by the answers which point to Henry martin. I couldn't remember the title of the song but those words were going round in my head.

Subject: RE: Judas&Mary (Sydney Carter) - trad tune?
From: GUEST,Ian cookieless
Date: 23 Mar 08 - 08:30 AM

Ah! Yes, Jim! I see exactly what you mean, now!

Cheers
Ian

Subject: RE: Origin: Judas and Mary (Sydney Carter) Lyrics
From: GUEST,Gwyneth Try
Date: 07 Apr 25 - 04:34 PM

JUDAS AND MARY
(Sydney Carter)

Said Judas to Mary, “Now what will you do
With your ointment so rich and so rare?”
“I’ll pour it all over the feet of the Lord
And I’ll wipe it away with my hair,” she said,
I’ll wipe it away with my hair.”

“Oh, Mary, O Mary, O think of the poor,
The ointment it could have been sold,
And think of the blankets and think of the bread,
You could buy with the silver and gold,” he said
“You could buy with the silver and gold.”

“Tomorrow, tomorrow, I’ll think of the poor;
Tomorrow,” she said, not today;
For dearer than all of the poor in the world
Is my love who is going away,” she said.
“My love who is going away.”

Said Jesus to Mary “Your love is so deep
Today you may do as you will.
Tomorrow, you say, I am going away,
But my body I leave with you still,” he said,
“My body I leave with still.”

“The poor of the world are my body,” he said,
“To the end of the world they shall be.
The bread and the blankets you give to the poor
You’ll know you have given to me,” he said,
“You’ll know you have given to me.”

“My body will hang on the cross of the world
Tomorrow,” he said, “not today”.
And Martha and Mary will find me again
And wash all my sorrow away, “ he said,
“And wash all my sorrow away.”