Lyr Req: Crazy Mary (Michael Smith)

Subject: Crazy Mary from Londonderry?
From: Nonie Rider
Date: 26 Sep 97 - 06:11 PM

In NON-trads, whotheheck wrote "Crazy Mary (From Londonderry)"?

I've got it on tape performed by Bonnie Koloc, but I don't have the original liner notes or attributions. The lyrics are clearly for a male singer, but she makes it beautifully haunting, and I've always loved it.

"Crazy Mary from Londonderry,
Lives next door to the cemetary, How many lovers have you buried?"
We would shout, and run away along the green and golden paths
That led us home, away from Crazy Mary.

Subject: RE: Crazy Mary from Londonderry?
From: Alex
Date: 26 Sep 97 - 06:54 PM

Michael Smith - it's on his "Love Stories" album 1987.

Subject: RE: Crazy Mary from Londonderry?
From: Alex
Date: 26 Sep 97 - 06:57 PM

Michael Smith - it's on his "Love Stories" album 1987.

Subject: RE: Crazy Mary from Londonderry?
From: Nonie Rider
Date: 26 Sep 97 - 07:18 PM

Wonderful--thanks! I knew it would be something obvious, but just didna ken wha.

Subject: ADD: Crazy Mary (Michael Smith)
From: GUEST,PJ
Date: 31 Mar 02 - 07:00 PM

CRAZY MARY
(Michael Smith)

Crazy Mary from Londonderry
Lives next door to a cemetery
How many lovers have you buried
We would shout running scared
Along the green and golden paths
That took us home from Crazy Mary

In the lamplight burning low
Dimly through enchanted woods
She would write beside the fire
That was never lit
As we ran by
Pretending to be frightened
We would laugh and shout at Crazy Mary (chorus)

But she would never answer us
But smile through the window softly
Wild-eyed and wild-haired
But we were sure that in the dark of night
She cursed us soundly
Casting spells and such
To turn us into donkeys - (chorus)

Michael Smith wrote this I believe in the early to mid-1970s since I knew it and performed it back then.

Subject: RE: Crazy Mary from Londonderry?
From: Melani
Date: 31 Mar 02 - 10:44 PM

I heard him do it as far back as the '60's.

Subject: RE: Crazy Mary from Londonderry?
From:
Date: 18 Aug 02 - 03:07 PM

Lyrics to Crazy Mary, please? I've got the video but due tohearing impairment can't quite make out the words. Thank you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Crazy Mary (from Londonderry) (M Smith)
From: GUEST,catskill
Date: 15 Jan 07 - 01:49 PM

Can anyone share the chords for "Crazy Mary" please...

Subject: Lyr Add: CRAZY MARY (Michael Smith)
From: Peace
Date: 15 Jan 07 - 03:21 PM

In the lamplight burning low
And dimly thru enchanted woods
She rocked beside the fire
That was never lit
And as we ran on by
Pretending to be frightened
We would shout and laugh at Crazy Mary

Crazy Mary from Londonderry
Lives next door to the cemetery
How many lovers have you buried
We would shout running scared
Across the green and golden paths
That led us home
Away from Crazy Mary

She would never answer us
Just smile thru the window softly
Wild-eyed and wild-haired
But we were sure that in the dark of night
She cursed us soundly
Casting spells and stuff
To turn us into donkeys

So they went the summer years
Each one more fleeting than the last one
Rushing down the green and golden paths
And soon the woods were not enchanted any more
For we had grown
And we'd forgotten Crazy Mary

So it comes that older now
We stand upon this windswept moor
The lonely stone before us testifies
That Crazy Mary rocks and smiles
And dreams her dreams somewhere
But not where little kids can follow after

And on the stone these words: dear friend
Please write me down as one who loved
The raven-haired and laughing lads
Who swore that they would marry me
But soon their sons came running by
And here I lie forgotten, Crazy Mary

In the lamplight burning low
And dimly thru enchanted woods
We think about the sins that we commit
Along the green and golden paths of growing up
We light the fire
And say a prayer for Crazy Mary

Crazy Mary from Londonderry
Lives next door to the cemetery
How many lovers have you buried

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Crazy Mary (from Londonderry) (M Smith)
From: GUEST,catskill
Date: 17 Jan 07 - 03:15 PM

thanks for the lyrics, all, but I was hoping for the chords...anybody?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Crazy Mary (from Londonderry) (M Smith)
From: Chris in Portland
Date: 20 Jan 07 - 12:11 PM

There's an interview with Bonnie Koloc now on the WNUR folk show archive that has her classic version of the song.
Chris in Portland

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Crazy Mary (from Londonderry) (M Smith)
From: GUEST,brandon from btown
Date: 20 Oct 10 - 05:23 PM

David Allan Coe did a version of this song on his album 'The mysterious rhinestone cowboy. 1974!