“Lady Mary (The Sad Song)”
Description
"He came from his palace grand And he came to my cottage door... But I was nothing to him, Though he was the world to me." She desperately loved him; now he is dead, but she has no excuse for mourning. She wonders if, in heaven, he will still ignore her
Notes
This has been quite popular in the folk revival; it appears that most if not all of these versions derive from the May Kennedy McCord collected by Randolph and Hunter; she also gave it to Evelyn Beers. Bush's printing also derives from McCord. Thus although there are a few other versions of the song known (from Owens and Sandburg), if you've heard this song, the version you know almost certainly comes from McCord. - RBW
Cross references
- cf. "We Met, 'Twas In a Crowd"
Recordings
- Bud Skidmore, "The Sad Song" (Columbia 15761-D, 1932)
References
- Randolph 698, "The Sad Song" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Randolph/Cohen, pp. 522-524, "The Sad Song" (1 text, 1 tune -- Randolph's 698)
- DT, LADYMARY*
- Roud #6358
- BI, R698