Lyr Req: Mary Jane (Jim McLean)

Subject: Lyr Req: bonnie mary jane
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 05:07 AM

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: bonnie mary jane
From: Jim McLean
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 05:16 AM

If it's the song which starts 'O'er the hills beyond the Clyde in the land of Mclean, lives the lass I made my bride, Bonnie Mary Jane...',
I wrote it a very long time ago and will post the lyrics if required.
Jim McLean

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: bonnie mary jane
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 12:32 PM

Yes it is, and I love it, also Glencoe since I presume that is also yours. While you're at it, does "Mary Jane" have a story behind it. It is a very beautiful song, you must have an amazing understanding of human emotions. Do you have a published songbook? Thank you. LS

Subject: Lyr Add: MARY JANE (Jim McLean)
From: Jim McLean
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 01:16 PM

Thanks for your kind words, LS. There is no great story only that I have always thought Burns' song The Silver Tassie is a love song rather than anti war, so I thought I'd write something which explained the thoughts of a mythical Highlander who was forced through various circumstances to go to war. I don't like the idea of 'The Scottish Soldier' fighting abroad for every country except his own and I hope this song has a kind of balance. My Grandfather came from Tobermory, by the way.

MARY JANE:Words and Music Jim McLean Publisher Duart Music 1966

O're the hills beyond the Clyde, in the land of McLean
Lives the lass I made my bride, bonny Mary Jane,
She has hair like golden mist and no other man has kissed
My sweet lass of Tobermory, bonnie Mary Jane.
Oh the battle drums are beating and the bagpipes loudly ring,
But above the roar of cannon I can hear her sing.
Through the clinging mud and rain,
Heedless of the cold and pain,
I will live or die for you, my bonnie Mary Jane.

Up and onward o'er the slope, comrades lie around me slain,
But my heart is full of hope for my Mary Jane,
I would fight a thousand men aye and fight them all again,
Not for country, not for king but for my Mary Jane.
There is burning all around me and the sky is all aflame,
But when guns begin to rattle, I just hear her name,
Though the powder burns my eyes,
If I fall I'll surely rise,
And come back again to Scotland and my Mary Jane.

Now the battle field is still, just the splash of falling rain,
There's a red mist o'er my eyes, bonnie Mary Jane,
And as night begins to fall,
I can't walk but I can crawl,
And I'm coming back to you, my bonnie Mary Jame.
And I'll see you in the summer when the gowans are in bloom,
And we'll walk the hills together through the bonnie broom.
Where the burn sings to the glen,
I will kiss you once again,
When I'm back with you in Scotland bonnie Mary Jane

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: bonnie mary jane
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 07:37 PM

Thak you very much indeed. I am somewhat in awe of musical creativity. Academic gifts I can understand but to bring something beautiful from nowhere into its own existance just out of one's own being.............. It is a real gift. I have recently visited Scotland for the first time (after seeing a little postcard show on TV). Although Australia is full of Scots, I have no known Scottish ancestry (although Antrim is so close I suspect there is undeniablr intermingling). I had read an Australian poem about Glencoe in school at about the time you wrote your ballad, and found the place hauntingly and majestically beautiful. Then the tour guide played a version of your song by "Steam Jenny". Leaving Scotland I bought a CD called Songs of Scotland. I had no idea that you had written Mary Jane, too. I consider it a priviledge to have had the words supplied by the writer/composer - I doubt it would happed with Paul McCartney or Paul Simon who must be contemporaries! I will always remember your beautiful country in association with your songs. If you do have a songbook please post the details, I will buy it. LS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: bonnie mary jane
From: Jim McLean
Date: 25 Nov 04 - 04:59 AM

Hi LS,
I produced that LP in 1972 with singer Alastair McDonald. There are another couple of songs of mine on the album, Silver Darlings and The Barras. I do have a song book dated 1968 but it contains mostly Rebel songs! Send me you address and I'll post you a copy if you like, my email is [e-mail].

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: bonnie mary jane
From: GUEST,Another guest
Date: 16 Oct 07 - 07:51 AM

I also love this song.
When I hear it, it feels like all troubles were just gone, It's something with the music, no doubt, but i don't understand what.
I've only heard Alastair McDonald's version of the song, are there any other recordings of it? Maybe by Jim McLean himself?
Actually, about JimMclean, i've searched the internet looking for any webpage writing something about him, but I have not found any.
Are there any CD with all of his (until now) songs?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mary Jane (Jim McLean)
From: GUEST,Rachel
Date: 21 Mar 08 - 02:19 PM

hey this is a relly good song. do u no where i could download it

xx

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mary Jane (Jim McLean)
From: meself
Date: 21 Mar 08 - 04:37 PM

Great lyrics - never heard the song ... Haven't seen much from Jim on here the last year or so - are you still out there Jim?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mary Jane (Jim McLean)
From: Jim McLean
Date: 21 Mar 08 - 05:43 PM

Hi meself,
I'm still around. I live in London but have been travelling to Edinburgh once a week for two days, so haven't checked out Mudcat as musch as I used to.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mary Jane (Jim McLean)
From: GUEST,Felix Oeschger, Basel, Switzerland
Date: 22 Mar 08 - 08:17 AM

Sorry for my last reply.

I bought the LP back in 1975 in Dundee at a Concert of Alistair McDonald and signed by him. Great Songs indeed.

You can download the Album from the Web in the iTunes-Shop. You need to install iTunes first. It is free of charge (www.apple.com). There are also other Albums of Alistair McDonald available.

Hope I can return to Scotland one day.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mary Jane (Jim McLean)
From: meself
Date: 22 Mar 08 - 10:20 AM

Hi, Jim - Good to know you're still following the shenanigans here. Yesterday I was scratching out the tune I know as 'Come Under my Plaidie' on my fiddle, when naturally enough the Dubliners' recording of 'Tibby Dunbar' came into my head, and I thought 'Ah! Jim Mclean!' ... Cheers!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mary Jane (Jim McLean)
From: GUEST,evedene
Date: 03 Mar 10 - 01:35 PM

Walking into a shop at Loch Ness in 1995 I was stopped in my tracks by the gorgeous music being played. It was the Massacre of Glencoe. I bought the tape, picked it out on the piano, had many friends listen to it. When email mentioning it to a recently found Scot kin, we googled it & found several have recorded it. It is the simple, folksy, warm harmonies & melody that got me. Didn't ken the words for some time - which are shocking. Sent me on a history search. Great Job, Jim McLean

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mary Jane (Jim McLean)
From: GUEST,C rose
Date: 05 Nov 12 - 12:27 PM

I like this song as well one of my fav songs lisen to it all the time such a good and catchy song

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mary Jane (Jim McLean)
From: GUEST,Jack
Date: 25 Mar 13 - 01:59 PM

This was one of my favourite songs from Alastair, I've always thought it a shame that no one else has done it. i always wanted to hear Alex Beaton do a recording, I think he did the best job on "Glencoe" that I've heard

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mary Jane (Jim McLean)
From: GUEST
Date: 05 May 16 - 03:29 AM

Jim - hello, if you're out there

I write in desperation to ask if you can tell me where I might access an online recording of Mary Jane. My dad died suddenly last week and in amongst his things I found a copy, handwritten by himself, of the lyrics, which obviously held a lot of meaning for him. His funeral is tomorrow and I would love to have this song played for him but can't find it anywhere.

All help very very welcome.

Thankyou for the years of pleasure I know your music gave him.

Belle

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mary Jane (Jim McLean)
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 05 May 16 - 07:47 PM

Guest / Belle -- Jim posted his email address earlier in the thread - [e-mail]

Think there may also have been mentions of recordings by -- Alasdair MacDonald?

Sorry to learn of the death of your father- hope you find the song.