“Willie and Mary (Mary and Willie; Little Mary; The Sailor's Bride)”

Description

A beggar comes to Mary's door three years after Willie went to see. He tells a fortune: Willie is shipwrecked and poor, and will never return to Mary. She says she will take him in any state. The beggar reveals himself as Willie, rich and ready to marry

Cross references

• cf. "John (George) Riley (I)" [Laws N36] and references there

Recordings

• Marc Williams, "William and Mary" (Brunswick 274, 1928)

References

1. Laws N28, "Willie and Mary (Mary and Willie; Little Mary; The Sailor's Bride)"
2. Belden, pp. 152-153, "Mary and Willie" (1 text plus reference to 1 more)
3. Randolph 57, "Mary and Willie" (2 text plus a fragment, 1 tune)
4. Hudson 39, pp. 153-164, "Mary and Willie" (1 text)
5. Brewster 95, "Willie and Mary" (1 fragment, likely this though it could be any of several disguised-lover songs)
6. Flanders/Brown, pp. 150-151, "The Single Sailor" (1 text)
7. McNeil-SFB1, pp. 78-79, "Little Willie and Mary" (1 text, 1 tune)
8. SHenry H118, pp. 315-316, "Mary and Willie" (1 text, 1 tune)
9. LPound-ABS, 93, pp. 200-202, "Mary and Willie" (1 text)
10. Peacock, pp. 348-349, "William and Mary" (1 text, 1 tune)
11. Huntington-Whalemen, pp. 116-117, "The Beggarman" (1 text, 1 tune)
12. DT 457, WILLMARY*
13. Roud #348
14. BI, LN28