Lyr Req: My Bonnie Maureen (Stewart Ross)

Subject: Lyr Req: My Bonnie Maureen
From: GUEST,RW
Date: 08 Feb 05 - 02:28 AM

Can't seem to come up with the lyrics for My Bonnie Maureen (Ross), and wonder if someone might be good enough to post them or suggest where I might find them? Thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Bonnie Maureen
From: Peace
Date: 08 Feb 05 - 02:59 AM

I cannot locate them. If all else fails, you might want to get this CD. It's about 9 or 10 down the page. However, I'm sure one of the guys or gals will come up with the lyrics for ya. Hang tough.

http://216.239.57.104/search?q=cache:O7ImJQO7pxYJ:shop.afterseattle.org/aws.cgi/mode_music/search_Homo%2520Sapiens%2520Ediciones

Subject: Lyr Add: MY LITTLE MAUREEN
From: freda underhill
Date: 08 Feb 05 - 03:07 AM

do you mean this?

MY LITTLE MAUREEN

Oh my love is as soft as the down on the breast of a swan
Aye and sweeter by far than the honey that comes from the bees
I'm happier still than the singing of birds on the wing
Oh my sweet one, my treasure, my little Maureen Machrie

Oh her eyes are the stars that shine in the black of the sky
And her cheeks are as soft as petals that come from the rose
And happy would I be forever beside her to lie
And God in his heaven forgive me for loving her so

When the greyness of winter gives way to the colors of spring
When the sea stops its fury and wee birds are starting to build
Then I'll go with my Maureen when blackthorns are blooming
And the summer's green meadows we'll gather the flowers of the hills

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Bonnie Maureen
From: Com Seangan
Date: 08 Feb 05 - 09:07 AM

My little Maureen (as given by Freda) is a lovely Song. McCormack (in my opimion) got more feeling into it than any other.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Bonnie Maureen
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 10 Feb 05 - 07:32 AM

Daniel O'Donnell sings MY BONNIE MAUREEN, written by Stewart Ross, on his 1988 album "From the Heart" which was reissued as a CD combined with the album "Thoughts of Home" in 2002. I transcribed these lines from a sound sample:

...my bonnie Maureen.
Beautiful maiden of far distant shore,
Will I return and see you once more?
Oh, how I long for what might have been....

Subject: Lyr Add: MY BONNIE MAUREEN (Stewart Ross)
From: GUEST,Alan Ross
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 11:49 AM

Hi Daniel O'Donnell recorded my father Stewart Ross's song 'My Bonnie Maureen' in 1988 as stated. It is actually a Scottish song - but Daniel's version has a couple of lyric differences and is also in a different style to the way it it was first written and copyrighted. So depending on whose version you hear the odd word and the way the chorus comes in will be different as well as where the stresses are on various words and odd notes. All are different approaches to the same copyright song, and there have been Scottish, Country and Folk styled versions mostly only available on a small-time basis - until Daniel O'Donnell picked it up.

It was written in Inverness Scotland in 1971. My brother was engaged to a local lass called Maureen and suggested to my father that he write a song with her name in it in her honour. Not long after the song was written and recorded my brother split up with Maureen!


MY BONNIE MAUREEN
(C) 1971 Stewart Ross/ Stewart Ross pub. /Valentine Music (at the present date 2004)

Though I'm far from the Highlands, the hill and the glen,
Still in my fancy, my thoughts turn again.
For there lives a lassie, the fairest I've seen,
She is so lovely, my bonnie Maureen.

Oft in the twilight, at the close of the day,
Sadly in fancy my memories stray
To the land I was born in, a land fresh and clean,
And the lassie who lives there, my bonnie Maureen.

CHORUS: Beautiful maiden of far distant shore,
Will I return and see you once more?
Oh, how I long for what might have been,
Lass of the highlands, my bonnie Maureen.

I hope and I pray that my dreams will come true,
And one day I'll walk through the heather with you,
And there in the church/chapel* in the valley so green,
We will join hands forever, my Bonnie Maureen.

CHORUS: Beautiful maiden of far distant shore,
Will I return and see you once more?
Oh, how I long for what might have been,
Lass of the highlands, my bonnie Maureen.
We will join hands forever. my bonnie Maureen.


*Church and chapel are interchangeable.
Some versions have the chorus line as
"And the lassie who lives there, my bonnie Maureen".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Bonnie Maureen
From: GUEST,Alan Ross
Date: 12 Feb 05 - 09:43 AM

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Bonnie Maureen
From: GUEST,Alan Ross
Date: 12 Feb 05 - 10:14 AM

Both the words and music of 'My Bonnie Maureen' were written by Stewart Ross in 1971.

Daniel O' Donnell was interviewed in 1988 by Moray Firth Radio. "One song in particular is 'My Bonnie Maureen'.   See, I keep saying that Scottish songs and Irish songs are very much alike - and they are! And this is just a song that is very, very nice." (Daniel O' Donnell).

D.J.   I'm going to pick one "My Bonnie Maureen", because it was written by an Inverness songwriter Stewart Ross.   

D.O.D. Yes, I like it, I like it a lot.
You met up with Stewart Ross some time ago. Yes, the first time we came to Inverness. It was actually in Aberdeen that he gave me the song, and I knew that I was going to do it, cause I liked it."

Stewart Ross interviewed on Moray Firth Radio 1988.

D.J. The highlight in your life must be the inclusion of one of your songs on Daniel O' Donnell's new record.

S.R. Oh yes! I'm very happy about that. I hope it's going to get heard by a lot of people. I think he sells a lot of LP's. But apart from that he's a nice man - he's a young man as you know. But he has kept his word - and this to me is worth a lot. I'm quite happy and very proud that he's done it. I hope your listeners will like it.

D.J. You said you were very happy with the production - is that the way it was originally recorded.

S.R. No - I recorded it first, so I'll draw a veil over that version!
It was Mike Devine (local country singer) who did it more in that line. We switched the chorus so it came in twice instead of once. In Daniel's the chorus comes in a slightly different place. They changed a couple of words for the Irish market - "chapel" instead of "church", and "through the heather" instead of "O'er the heather" - but that's fine.

D.J. It means a lot to you to have this song on.

S.R. Oh yes - I mean we tried for years and it's been a long, long slog. There's been a lot of good recordings of my songs - but I hope that this is the one that makes the difference".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Bonnie Maureen
From: GUEST,Alan Ross
Date: 05 Nov 08 - 10:46 AM

A new version of this song has come out on a budget release "Ronnie Ross" "memories of Scotland" Pegasus CD 666 (no omen jokes!).

My brother's version of the song written for his girlfriend is pretty good and restores the song to its true Scottish origins. The words are more accurate than O'Donnell's version - and it's a little faster. Scotland's most fanous musician Phil Cunningham plays piano on the track. The album features 4 Stewart Ross wholly composed and authored songs 'My Bonnie Maureen', 'Home to Inverness' 'Highland Road' and 'Here's to Scottish Whisky'. The release is being put out internationally, so hopefully more people might appreciate the beauty of the song 'My Bonnie Maureen', when performed in a more upbeat manner.   

My brother had previously recorded the song - but had flu and sung a worng line, so he has re-recorded the vocals and added a new mix and part backing.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Bonnie Maureen (Stewart Ross)
From: GUEST,Alan Ross
Date: 16 Jan 11 - 08:30 PM

Further to this: highland cultural archive website 'am baile'(the Village) have now published on the Internet the 1988 audio interview where Stewart Ross discusses 'My Bonnie Maureen', 'Here's to Scottish Whisky' 'Highland Road' - and the unfortunate botch up he made by writing his set of lyrics to the 'Dark Island'.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Bonnie Maureen (Stewart Ross)
From: GUEST,Steve Williams
Date: 02 Jan 12 - 12:02 PM

Do you have contact details Alan?

S.Williams

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Bonnie Maureen (Stewart Ross)
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 02 Jan 12 - 05:51 PM

Stewart contributed to the new folk awards thread a few days ago

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Bonnie Maureen (Stewart Ross)
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 02 Jan 12 - 05:54 PM

that was actually Alternative Folk Awards.. I think he must hang around Mudccat- cos he seems acquainted with the sort of rubbish I write.. So I would suggest you start a new thread asking to get in contact with him.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Bonnie Maureen (Stewart Ross)
From: GUEST,Alan Ross
Date: 02 Jan 12 - 08:47 PM

Hi Big Al you must be talking about a different Stewart Ross - as my father of the same name died way back in 1993 at the age of 63.   My brother Ronnie Ross has a website flogging many of his own easy listening, Scottish and country Cd's and now DVDs and he has a gallery with a few pictures of my father Stewart Ross and his band.
I mostly take care of the songs and our archive. Ronnie has been making his own name as a MOR Scottish artiste and writer.

Steve, I can be contacted at [e-mail] My old man would have to have a clairvoyant contact him - but he lives on in a strange way. He never lived to see many of his songs now being re-released on the Internet. 'My Bonnie Maureen' has recently been issued on a DVD by Ronnie - 'Memories of Scotland' and many download services.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Bonnie Maureen (Stewart Ross)
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jan 16 - 04:35 AM

Just to update this thread. I posted a video of the song on youtube. The lyrics still aren't perfect, and I would have done it a fraction slower. Phil Cunningham plays piano, but I think it would suit a more folk styled backing.
https://youtu.be/AeKfXAKy5H4

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Bonnie Maureen (Stewart Ross)
From: GUEST,Peter C
Date: 04 Feb 16 - 09:15 AM

Is the sheet music for 'Bonnie Maureen' available at all?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Bonnie Maureen (Stewart Ross)
From: GUEST,Peter C
Date: 05 Feb 16 - 12:03 PM

Is the sheet music for 'Bonnie Maureen' available at all?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Bonnie Maureen (Stewart Ross)
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 05 Feb 16 - 12:51 PM

Well, Peter, the song seems to be copyright, so I don't want to make a MIDI of it. However, I have listened to the video linked on Jan 16th above, and I think it would be easy to work out. You could either know it by ear or write down the notes.

It is in 3/4 time and in the key of A. The first note (pick-up note) is an E. As for timing, it has quite a few measures where a half note is followed by two eighths. (I am 90% sure of these facts.)

If you don't know the melody already, try singing the lyrics from this thread in one window and playing the video in another window. Then sing along until you know it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Bonnie Maureen (Stewart Ross)
From: GUEST,Peter C
Date: 06 Feb 16 - 05:15 AM

Thanks leenia! Yes it is a fairly simple tune, but I always like to have the dots if I can get them (and am happy to pay for copyright sheet music!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Bonnie Maureen (Stewart Ross)
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 06 Feb 16 - 11:37 AM

You're welcome, Peter. Yes, dots save time, but sometimes they are not to be found. I have MIDI software, and for me a MIDI file is even better - with it, I can easily change the key, etc.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Bonnie Maureen (Stewart Ross)
From: GUEST,Alan Ross
Date: 20 Feb 16 - 01:52 AM

Hi I missed this, yes it is a copyright song written by my father. I own it. I have sheet music not commercially available. I left an e-mail address on the You tube site. but at the moment my e-mail is [e-mail].

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Bonnie Maureen (Stewart Ross)
From: GUEST,Alan Ross
Date: 15 Mar 16 - 11:53 PM

My Bonnie Maureen has just been released this week on Daniel O' Donnell 'The ultimate Irish Collection' 60 great Irish favourites. So just to once again labour the point. It is NOT really an Irish song, but a Scottish song, recorded by an Irish singer. Ok the name Maureen may be Irish. My father Stewart Ross was from Inverness, the song was written and originally recorded in Scotland, and the lady it was written about was from Inverness - Scotland! But hey at least the record company have used it. I am grateful but dreading people calling it Irish!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Bonnie Maureen (Stewart Ross)
From: GUEST,Peter C
Date: 16 Mar 16 - 12:44 PM

We are playing the song (it is lovely) quite often at the moment and getting on well with it (thanks Alan Ross for the dots!)We go to a couple of nursing homes with residents called 'Maureen' and it goes down a treat!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Bonnie Maureen (Stewart Ross)
From: GUEST,Alan Ross
Date: 17 Mar 16 - 04:51 PM

Thanks for the follow up information Peter! If it entertains one person that's nice to know.