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Maggie May
[ Roud 5383 ; G.W. Moore]
Tommy Morrissey of Padstow, Cornwall, sang Maggie May on his and Charlie Pitman's Veteran Tapes cassette Pass Around the Grog, published in c. 1987/89. This track was reissued in 2004 on the Veteran anthology CD of folks songs sung in the West Country, Old Uncle Tom Cobleigh and All. John Howson commented in the liner notes:
Little Maggie May was written in America in 1869 by G.W. Moore with music by Charles W. Blamphin. It was published in Songs of the Sunny South (1929) which included, folk songs, spirituals, minstrel and Stephen Foster songs. In more recent years this song has became popular in Padstow through the singing of Charlie Bate, to who Tommy credited the song.
Danny Stradling learned Maggie May from Charlie Bate too and sang it on Oak's gig at Benfleet Folk Club, The Hoy and Helmet, Benfleet, Essex, in 1972. This recording made by Keith Summers was included in 2003 on Oak's Musical Traditions anthology Country Songs and Music.
Lyrics
Tommy Morrissey sings Maggie May | Oak sing Maggie May |
---|---|
Spring has come, the flowers in bloom, |
The spring 'tis here, the flowers in bloom, |
Chorus (after each verse): |
Chorus (after each verse): |
Her hair was gold, her eyes were blue |
Her hair is gold, her eyes are blue, |
Although her voice is ever still, | |
The years have flown, my eyes are dim, |
The years have flown, my eyes grow dim, |