Ann Mayo Muir songs
This marks one more instance when Judy asked me to write the music for her words. That would make her the first person who invited me to collaborate.
What a great thing that was for her to do.
It's hard to imagine a life more lonely then that of a woman married to a seafaring man back in the old days. She often had to endure years of separation, raising children alone, while waiting for the day he returned __if he returned at all.
Judy Goodenough's lyric describes a rare acceptance of this plight.
I am playing a bell 12 string guitar and singing with Ed Trickett who's playing steal string guitar.
THE LADY MARY SAILS
And what will I wear when the Mary sails
A dress as red as red can be.
I'll think of him when the Mary sails,
And she takes him far away from me.
A week and a month and a year go by;
The stars go traveling round the sky,
Won't hear me weep, won't see me cry,
When the Lady Mary sails.
And what will I wear when the corn's to cut?
His old brown britches, tied with a string.
I'll think of him when the corn's to cut
And the geese are crying on the wing.
And what will i wear when the baby's born?
his old white shirt to give me ease.
I'll think of him when the baby's born
Whose daddy's gone to sail the seas.
And what will i wear when the Mary comes?
A widow's veils and a widow's black.
I'll think of him when the Mary comes
the man who won't be coming back.
And what will I wear when his stone's to set?
Some ribbon's off my wedding dress.
I'll think of him when his stone's to set:
It's one man more and one man less.
(Goodenough / Muir, BMI )
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