Tune Req: Not THAT Maggie May

Subject: Tune Req: Not THAT Maggie May
From: GUEST,Julia L
Date: 04 Mar 20 - 07:29 PM

Hi folks, Here's a different song about Maggie May for which I would like to find the tune. It's from Fanny Eckstorm's papers in Orono Maine. Taken down from Franz Blanchard, Brewer ME in 1934 who learned it from a Newfoundland seal hunter around 1899.

Maggie May

When we set sail to chase the whale
No merrier crew than we
Ever left their native shore
To sail the bounding sea
And some were sad and some were glad
But I sang with glee
For I sang to marry sweet Maggie May
When I got home from sea

No chorus

Other verses describe him returning to find sh has run off with a guy from Boston

many thanks

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Not THAT Maggie May
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 04 Mar 20 - 07:39 PM

I wonder if the attached (When I Came Back From Sea) had any influence on the song you're looking for:

https://books.google.ca/books?id=dEhGAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA237&lpg=PA237&dq=For+I+sang+to+marry+sweet+Maggie+May&source=bl&ots=ee7MLdIlD

That's from 1860.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Not THAT Maggie May
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 04 Mar 20 - 07:44 PM

Scroll down just a bit and the song lyrics start in the right-hand column. No melody however.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Not THAT Maggie May
From: cnd
Date: 04 Mar 20 - 10:01 PM

Starship, what you linked is a poem by Fitz-James O'Brien, which doesn't come with an original tune but whose scansion seems to fit well to me.

The folk song you're looking for may be Maggie May (Roud 1757)

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Not THAT Maggie May
From: GUEST,Julia L
Date: 04 Mar 20 - 10:48 PM

That's great- thanks. definitely the poem. I'm not convinced that's the tune, however, so will keep looking for maggie GRAY.
Will post if I find
cheers- Julia

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Not THAT Maggie May
From: clueless don
Date: 05 Mar 20 - 06:48 AM

When you say "Not THAT Maggie May", to which Maggie May are you referring? There's the Rod Stewart recording ("Wake up, Maggie, I think I got something to say to you ..."), and there is also a song with a chorus that goes something like

Oh, Maggie, Maggie May
they have taken you away
to walk upon Van Diemen's cruel shore!
You robbed so many sailors
and you dosed so many whalers.
Now you'll never walk down Lime Street anymore.

Don

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Not THAT Maggie May
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 05 Mar 20 - 08:51 AM

It looks like the poem about Maggie Gray was 'influenced' by Maggie May/Mae, influenced being a euphemism for 'lifted from'. Maggie May/Mae predated the poem attributed to O'Brien by at least a hundred years, and O'Brien's poem in turn predates the song 'sourced' from the Newfoundlander by over fifty or so years. I doubt that O'Brien's poem was original with O'Brien. I may have tossed a spanner in the works. Excuse me if that is the case.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Not THAT Maggie May
From: GUEST,Hilary
Date: 07 Mar 20 - 10:28 AM

It could be possible that it was recited rather than sung (unless there is reference to singing in Eckstorm's notes) and thus maybe there is no tune. I tried to find this in the roud index with no success. One place you might consider looking (if you haven't already) is in the "Old Favourites" column of the Family Herald, although I don't think they printed that many tunes. But at least you might be able to get more information about the verse. There's also always the possibility that Franz Blanchard took it from print and made up the story about the Newfoundland seal hunter.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Not THAT Maggie May
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 07 Mar 20 - 12:01 PM

It is worth noting that Gerry Ffrech has written a very good song inspired by the "taken her away" one, from the point of view of Maggie May.
It is called "The other Maggie May", on her CD "Over sea under stars".

Robin

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Not THAT Maggie May
From: SussexCarole
Date: 07 Mar 20 - 03:55 PM

Andrew (Crane Driver) McKay has also written one from Maggie's perspective titled 'May No More' Lyrics on website
www.cranedrivinmusic.com

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Not THAT Maggie May
From: GUEST,Julia L
Date: 10 Mar 20 - 10:18 AM

Thanks all-
Hilary (hello!) I think you have hit the mark. It's going in the "recitation" file

cheers- J