Irish Folk Song: Moorlough Mary

Above are the first few verses of the Irish folk song “Moorlough Mary.” This song has been credited to a poet named James Devine of Loughash, Donemana, Co. Tyrone, c. 1876. I learned this version from the singing of Paddy Tunney (I’ve “oral traditioned” this one a little bit- some words are different). This song circulated through much of northern Ireland in the form of ballad sheets, and has been sung to various tunes.

I encourage listening to Tunney’s full version to hear all of the absolutely gorgeous lyrics and powerful imagery of this song. “Moorlough Mary” conveys the persistence and despair of unrequited love: in verse after verse, the narrator pleads for Mary, the object of his love, to go away with him. In what I interpret as a kind of reverie, he paints picture after picture of what their lives together could be like. But in the end, he convinces himself to abscond to the wilds alone, amongst the salmon, the thrush, and blackbirds- his songs of sorrow muffled by the leaves of a lonely arbor.

Paddy Tunney (b. 1921- d. 2002)

I started learning this song as a kind of balm after a bad break up, and it’s become more and more cozy in my body over the years. 

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Lyrics:

Oh the very first time I saw my Moorlough Mary

It was in the market of the sweet Strabane

Her killing glances bereft my senses

The hearts of young men she did trepan

Her killing glances bereft my senses

Of peace and comfort either night or day

In silent slumber I start and murmur

O, Moorlough Mary, won't you come away?

Were I a man of great reputation 

Or had Erin’s Isle at my own command

I would lay my head on your snowy bosom

In wedlock bands love, we’d join our hands

I would entertain you both night and morning

With robes I’d deck you by the break of day

And with kisses sweet love, I would embrace you

Oh Moorlough Mary won’t you come away?