Henry's Songbook

Fare thee well my own true love
Fare thee well my dear
For the ship is a-waiting and the wind blows high
And I am bound away for the sea, Mary Ann
And I am bound away for the sea, Mary Ann

Oh yonder, don't you see the dove
A-sittin' on his stile
He's a-mourning the loss of his own true love
As I do now for you my dear Mary Ann
As I do now for you my dear Mary Ann

The lobster boiling in the pot
The bluefish on the hook
They're suffering long, but it's nothing like
The ache I bear for you my dear Mary Ann
The ache I bear for you my dear Mary Ann

Oh had I but a flask of gin
And sugar here for two
And a great big bowl for to mix them in
I'd pour a drink for you Mary Ann
I'd pour a drink for you Mary Ann

(as sung by The Spinners)

[1972:] Although her origin lies in Canada, the verses of the song are the sort of standard ones which float from song to song. (Notes Spinners, 'Love Is Teasing')

[1985:] A beautiful tune from Nova Scotia. The words I use are considerably changed from the original as I heard it. (Notes Hamish Imlach, 'Sonny's Dream')

[1992:] From Seeds of Love, Sedley. Apparently a burlesque of Turtle Dove, Mary Ann is an Anglo-American music hall song of the 1850s. (R[ichard] G[reenhaus], UWP Archive, www.leo.org/)

[1995:] Sailor's love song from Nova Scotia. I have collated words from other trad. songs and re-written some. The tune, once again, has been changed a little due to my lousy memory. (Notes Hamish Imlach, 'More and Merrier')