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Mary of Argyle

[ Roud 12904 ; Ballad Index JMSSo105 ; Bodleian Roud 12904 ; Mudcat 23255 ; Charles Jeffries, Sidney Nelson]

Bob Hart sang Bonny Mary of Argyll at home in Snape, Suffolk, on 8 July 1969 to Rod and Danny Stradling. This recording was included in 1998 on his Musical Traditions album A Broadside. Rod Stradling noted in the accompanying booklet:

I would have thought this was a fairly well-known song, but Roud has only 22 instances, and the only other named singer is Henry Burstow of Horsham, Sussex, who had a vast repertoire of over 400 songs listed in the book he wrote, Reminiscences of Horsham, 1911.

Just about every Scots broadside printer issued it though; it’s in many Scottish chapbooks c.1825, and was recorded by Harry Lauder on at least three occasions: 18 February 1916, Victor 45126; 5 March 1926 HMV D-1229; 7 December 1926, Victor 4002/Zonophone GO-74.

The song is said to have been written by two Englishmen, Charles Jeffries (words) and Sidney Nelson (music). Kilgarriff gives ‘c.1855’ as the date of composition, but it must have been before 1825 when the song appears on dated broadsides. Mary was Margaret ‘Mary’ Campbell b.1763 in Dunoon, d.1786. She was one of Burns’ girlfriends, the so-called ‘Highland Mary’ of his poems, (since when was Dunoon in the Highlands?) who may, repeat may, have died in childbirth. When her tomb was opened c.1930 the remains of a new-born child were found. But there were also several other people’s remains in the tomb.

Iona Fyfe sang Mary of Argyle in 2015 on her EP The First Sangs She noted:

Written by two Englishmen most likely around 1850. ‘Bonny Mary’ was otherwise known as ‘Highland Mary’. Mary Campbell 1763-1786 died tragically young. It is thought that Burns had asked her to accompany him on his journey to Jamaica, but she died before they left. The song is found in a Broadside with the possible period of publication being 1860-1880.

Steve Turner sang Mary of Argyle on his 2018 Tradition Bearers CD Late Cut, attributing it to Robert Burns:

Gina le Faux tells the story of her grandfather singing this lovely song by Robert Burns to her as a child—not always when he was sober by all accounts! I seem to be one of the few who didn’t learn it at school and was honoured when she gave me the music saying she thought it was a song I would enjoy singing. Not only is it a wonderful love song but it is about love in older years—not a commonly considered subject for song writers.

Amy Henderson and Ewan MacPherson sang Bonnie Mary of Argyle on their 2016 download EP Searching for Gold.

Lyrics

Bob Hart sings Bonny Mary of Argyll

I have heard the mavis singing
Its lovesong to the morn.
I have seen the dewdrops falling
From the rose that’s newly born.
But a sweeter song has cheered me
At the evening’s gentle close,
I have seen an eye still brighter
Than the dewdrops on the rose.
’Twas thy voice, my gentle Mary,
And thy winning artless smile
That has made this world an Eden
Bonny Mary of Argyll

Though thy voice may lose its sweetness,
Thine eye its brightness too,
Though thy feet may lose their swiftness
And thine hair its bonny hue.
Still, to me shalt thou be dearer
Than all the world shall own.
I have loved thee for thy beauty,
But not for that alone.
I have watched thy heart, dear Mary,
And its goodness was the while
That has made thee mine for ever
Bonny Mary of Argyll

Amy Henderson and Ewan MacPherson sing Bonnie Mary of Argyll

I have heard the mavis singing
His love song to the moon
I have seen the dewdrop clinging
To the rose just nearly born
But a sweeter song has cheer’d me
At the evening’s gentle close
And I’ve seen an eye still brighter
Than the dewdrop on the rose
’Twas thy voice, my gentle Mary,
And thine artless winning smile
That made this world an Eden,
Bonnie Mary of Argyle

Though thy voice may lose its sweetness,
Thine eye it’s brightness too
Though thy step may lack its fleetness
And thy hair its sunny hue
Still to me wilt thou be dearer
Than all the world shall own
I have loved thee for thy beauty,
But not for that alone
I have watched thy heart, dear Mary
And its goodness was the wile
That has made thee mine forever,
Bonnie Mary of Argyle