Mary Mild (Mary Hamilton)

Subject: Mary Mild
From: GUEST,dorareever
Date: 12 Aug 01 - 04:43 PM

In the last verse of the song,what do the reference to the colours means?the dress she wear the day she die?! what? Can someone help me please?

Dora

tnx

Subject: RE: Mary Mild
From: toadfrog
Date: 12 Aug 01 - 05:31 PM

The reference seems to be to a version of Mary Hamilton, which ends:

I winna pit on the black, the black,
Nor will I pit on the brown,
But I will pit on the sky blue silk,
To shine ouwre Edinburgh Town.

I don't know the answer, but here is a CLICKIE, and yet another CLICKIE, this one containing one of Malcom Douglas's essays, itself rich in more clickies. I can't find anything relevant on Google, except a dead reference to the old digitrad.

Subject: RE: Mary Mild
From: Sorcha
Date: 12 Aug 01 - 07:12 PM

I'm guessing that Mary would not wear the black or brown dress because she refused to act humiliated or intimidated. She was determined to go to her death looking as beautiful as she could and so chose her lovliest gown. Just a guess, tho.

Subject: RE: Mary Mild
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 12 Aug 01 - 08:24 PM

Sorcha's explanation sounds as good as anything you're likely to get; I can't better it.  There's quite a long tradition of tragic heroines going to their doom in their best frocks (c.f. in particular Lord Thomas and Fair Annet/ Ellinor/ Eleanor).  The audience is always impressed, and quite rightly so.

But she dressed herself in her best attire,
Her merry men all in green,
And every town that she went through,
They thought she was some queen.

Subject: RE: Mary Mild
From: Sorcha
Date: 12 Aug 01 - 08:31 PM

jeez, thanks Malcolm! That is praise indeed from the Master of Documentation!! (no snide intended at all!)

Subject: RE: Mary Mild
From: GUEST,dorareever
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 04:38 PM

yeah,I was thinking the same...she wants to die proud and pretty in her blue dress.Just wanted to know if was only my guessing