“Mary o' the Dee (Mary's Dream)”

Description

Mary falls asleep thinking of Sandy. His ghost appears to her, bidding her to stop weeping; his body lies at the bottom of the sea and he is at rest. He warns her that they will soon meet. The cock crows and the ghost vanishes

Supplemental text

Mary o' the Dee (Mary's Dream) [Laws K20]
  Complete text(s)

          *** A ***

Mary's Dream

From James Johnson, "The Scots Musical Museum," Volume I, #37+38,
pp. 38-39. As found in the 1853 edition (punctuation is somewhat
uncertain, given the state of the facsimile).

The moon had climb'd the highest hill,
  Which rises o'er the sources of Dee,
And from the eastern summit
  Shed her silver light on tow'r and tree:
When Mary laid her down to sleep,
  Her thoughts on Sandy far at sea;
When soft and low a voice was heard,
  Say, Mary weep no more for me.

She from her pillow gently rais'd
  Her head to ask, who there might be.
She saw young Sandy shiv'ring stand,
  With visage pale and hollow eye;
'O Mary dear, cold is my clay,
  'It lies beneath the stormy sea;
'Far, far from thee, I sleep in death;
  'So, Mary, weep no more for me.

'Three stormy nights and stormy days
  'We tossed upon the raging main;
'And long we strove our bark to save,
  'But all our striving was in vain.
'Ev'n then, when horror chill'd my blood,
  'My heart was filled with love for thee:
'The storm is past, and I at rest,
  'So, Mary, weep no more for me.

'O maiden dear, thyself prepare;
  'We soon shall meet upon that shore,
'Where love is free from doubt and care,
  'And thou and I shall part no more!'
Loud crow'd the cock, the shadow fled,
  No more of Sandy could she see;
But soft the passing spirit said,
  'Sweet Mary, weep no more for me!'

Notes

Although traditionally considered a Scots song (there is a version in Scots dialect, possibly by Allan Cunningham), and often found is Scottish song collections, its grip on Scottish tradition is weak -- I wouldn't be surprised if most are ultimately derived from the _Scots Musical Museum_. There are a number of printed versions, but traditional collections are mostly from North America. The author, John Lowe, emigrated to the American colonies shortly before the Revolutionary War, and the song was written in what later became the U.S. - RBW

The commentary for NLScotland, L.C.Fol.178.A.2(075) for "Mary's Dream": "The lyrics for this ballad were written in 1772 by John Lowe. Lowe was tutor to the McGhie family, and wrote the song for Mary, one of the daughters. She had been engaged to a surgeon named Alexander (Sandy) Miller who was lost at sea." - BS

Broadsides

• Bodleian, Harding B 17(191b), "Mary's Dream" ("The moon had clim'd the highest hill"), T. Birt (London), 1833-1841; also Firth b.27(534), 2806 c.17(266), Firth b.27(240), Firth b.27(407), Harding B 11(2368), Harding B 11(2369), Harding B 25(1230), Firth b.25(18), Harding B 11(1875), 2806 c.14(49), 2806 c.14(166), Harding B 15(189a), "Mary's Dream"
• LOCSinging, as108650, "Mary's Dream," L. & J. L. Appley (New York), 19C
• Murray, Mu23-y1:056, "Mary's Dream," James Lindsay (Glasgow), 19C
• NLScotland, L.C.Fol.178.A.2(075), "Mary's Dream," James Lindsay (Glasgow), c.1875

References

1. Laws K20, "Mary o' the Dee (Mary's Dream)"
2. Eddy 83, "Mary o' the Dee (Mary's Dream)" (1 text)
3. SHenry H54, pp. 144-145, "Mary's Dream" (1 text, 1 tune -- the latter added by Sam Henry)
4. JHCox 147, "Mary o' the Dee" (1 text)
5. Chappell-FSRA 40, "Mary and Sandy" (1 text, 1 tune)
6. Huntington-Whalemen, pp. 246-248, "Mary's Dream" (1 text, 1 tune)
7. Creighton-SNewBrunswick 65, "Mary's Vision" (1 text, 1 tune)
8. cf. Gardner/Chickering, p. 481, "Mary's Dream" (source notes only)
9. DT 562, MARYDREM
10. ST LK20 (Full)
11. Roud #713
12. BI, LK20