Lyr/Chords Req: Four Marys

15 Jan 97 - 12:48 AM (#1341)
Subject: lyrics req: Four Mary's
From: Ross Blakeney([e-mail])

I'm looking for the lyrics, and chord progression for the song, Four Mary's. Any help is greatly appreciated. thanks, Ross

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16 Jan 97 - 12:28 AM (#1367)
Subject: RE: lyrics req: Four Mary's
From: Alistair

Hallo Ross,

I hae posted the lyrics tae this sang a wee while ago ... it's in the database ! (Mary Hamilton)

Howe'er - sae sairy but this lass has nae idea wid the chords are ...

Slainte'!

Ali

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16 Jan 97 - 11:15 AM (#1372)
Subject: RE: lyrics req: Four Mary's
From: [e-mail]

Chords

In C:

  
  C              F       C
  Word is to the kitchen staff
                     G7
  And word is to the hall
      F       G7    C          Am
  And word is up to madame the queen
      C          G7       C
  And that's the worst of all,
      F     G7         C       Am
  That Mary Hamilton's borne a babe
         C       G7        C
  To the highest Stuart of all.

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16 Jan 97 - 11:19 AM (#1373)
Subject: RE: lyrics req: Four Mary's
From: [e-mail]

Well, that didn't work quite as I envisioned.

C F C / C G7/ F G7 C Am / C G7 C / Repeat last two segments.

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27 Jan 97 - 04:26 PM (#1658)
Subject: RE: lyrics req: Four Mary's
From: [e-mail]

I haven't checked out the dt site, but I have the poem (song) in a British Lit Book when I took the course back in the '60. It has 18 verses, is in dialect and differs from more recent versions. My version was in British Literature, ed. by Hazelton Spencer, DC Heath and Co. p. 218-19. It is worth looking up and comparing. Definitely a more interesting version.

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30 Jan 97 - 09:02 AM (#1749)
Subject: RE: lyrics req: Four Mary's
From: Susan of DT

Is it different from the 19 verses of Mary Hamilton (2) we have? taken from Jean Redpath as she recites it on a record

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30 Jan 97 - 08:06 PM (#1765)
Subject: RE: lyrics req: Four Mary's
From: [e-mail]

Either version at the site is different from the one I have in British Lit. above. This version takes her to trial and comments after drinking a "little" wine. Let me know if you want it and how to get it to you.

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30 Jan 97 - 11:12 PM (#1767)
Subject: RE: lyrics req: Four Mary's
From: dick greenhaus

Hi- We'd love to get a variant we're missing. Just post the words here, and they'll find their way into the database in due time. If you can provide a source. or any notes, they'd also be appreciated.

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01 Feb 97 - 01:49 PM (#1822)
Subject: RE: lyrics req: Four Mary's
From: [e-mail]

There were four well-born ladies, all Mary, but none met the fate in the story. Probably based on an incident in the cour of May Queen of Scotts in 1563.

^^
1. Word's gane to the kitchen,
And word' gane to the ha,
That Marie Hamilton gangs wi' bairn
To the hichest Stewart of a'.

2. He's courted her in the kitchen;
He's courted her in the ha';
He's courted her in the laigh cellar,
And that was the worst of a'.

3. She's tyed it in her apron,
And thrown it in the sea:
Says, "Sink ye, swim ye, bonny wee babe,
ou'll neer get mair of me!"

4. Down then cam the auld queen,
Goud tassels tying her hair;
"O Marie, where's the bonny wee babe
That I heard greet sae sair?"

5. "There was never a babe intill my room,
As little designs to be ;
It was but a touch o my sair side,
Come oer my fair bodie."

6. "O Marie, put on your robes o black,
Or else your robes o brown,
for ye maun gang wi me the night,
To see fair Edinbro town.

7. "I winna put on my robes o black,
Not yet my robes o brown;
But I'll put on my robes of white,
To shine through Edinbro town."

8. When she gaed up the Cannogate,
She laughd loud laughters three;
But whan she cam down the Cannogate,
The tears blinded her ee.

9. When she gaed up the Parliament stair,
The heel cam aff her shee;
And lang or she cam down again,
She was condemned to dee.

10. When she dam down the Cannogate,
The Cannogate sae free,
Many a ladie lookd oer her window,
Weeping for this ladie.

11. "Ye need nae weep for me," she says,
"Ye need nae weep for me; for
Had I not slain mine own sweet babe,
This death I wadna dee.

12. "Bring me a bottle of wine,; she says,
"The best that eer ye hae,
That I may drink to my weil-wishers,
And they my drink to me.

13. "Here's a hearlth to jolly sailors,
That sail upon the main;
Let them never let on to my father and mother
But what I' coming hame.

14. "Here's a health to the jolly sailors,
That sail upon the sea;
Let them never let on to my father and mother
That I cam here to dee.

15. "Oh little did my mother think,
he day she cradled me,
What lands I was to travel through,
What death I was to dee.

16. "Oh little did my father think,
The day he held up me,
What lands I was to travel through,
What death I was to dee.

17. "Last night I washd the queen's feet,
And gently laid her down;
And a' the thanks I've gotten the nicht

To be hanged in Edinbro town!

18. "Last nicht there was four Maries;
The nicht there'l be but three:
There was Marie Seton and Marie Beton
And Marie Carmichael and me."

from British Literature, vol 1, DC Heath, 1963, pp 218-219. Please excuse typos. Thanks

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01 Feb 97 - 10:17 PM (#1841)
Subject: RE: lyrics req: Four Mary's
From: digk greenhaus

Hi- Thanx much! dick greenhaus

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15 Feb 97 - 05:04 PM (#2261)
Subject: RE: lyrics req: Four Mary's
From: lynn

Does anyone know the provenance of this song? It's widely assumed that it must be something to do with Mary Stewart (Queen of Scots) - but the history doesn't fit. It has to be 4 Marys linked with a court where there is a Stewart king (not prince consort). I'd love to know.

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16 Feb 97 - 10:14 AM (#2271)
Subject: RE: lyrics req: Four Mary's
From: Susan of DT

When Mary Queen of Scots was sent to France to marry the dauphin (crown prince) in 1548, four highborn Scots girls all named Mary or Marie went with her - Flemington, Livingston, Seaton, and Beaton - the four Marys. However, the incident is thought to have occurred in Russia at Czar Peter's court in 1718,where a Mary Hamilton was pregnant, killed the child, and was executed. [From Child]

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