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Blooming Mary Ann / Lovely MaryAnne

[ Roud 6466 ; Ballad Index Peac505 ; trad.]

Matthew Byrne sang Lovely MaryAnne on his 2025 album Stealing Time. He noted:

I learned this from Mom, who collected it from Mac Masters of Harbour Buffett, Placentia Bay. A rare plot twist for traditional songs about young lovers from different classes. The lad here isn’t too proud. He happily accepts money and land in exchange for settling down and staying home from sea. Proper thing!

Lyrics

Matthew Byrne sings Lovely MaryAnne

Come all of ye young sailor lads wherever you may be
And all you jolly fishermen who’ve lately come from sea
I’ll tell you of a pretty girl and I’ll get her if I can
And I’m dearly doting on her, she’s my lovely MaryAnne

The first time I met my love ’twas at a grand old spree
The very next glance I had of her, I knew she was for me
We both embraced each other and courting it began
That’s how I was acquainted with my lovely MaryAnne

I stayed with her all that long night and part of the next day
And when we both were parting, these words to her did say
“My fair and darling jewel, pray, when will we meet again?”
“It will be on next Sunday evening”, said Lovely MaryAnne

A week went by and Sunday came, I thought it was high time
For to get ready and go see, that charming girl of mine
So I washed my hands, my face likewise, clean clothes I did put on
And ’twas down the street, I went to meet my lovely MaryAnne

She asked me into her father’s house, I hadn’t long been there
When her father asked me questions, I was very glad to hear
And I said “I’m a roving sailor lad as you may understand
And I’ve come to see if you’ll give me your daughter MaryAnne”

Well since ye love each other so such things will have to be
I’ll give you a little money if you’ll just stay home from sea
I’ll give you a little money and a house, and farm of land
If you’ll stay on shore forever more, with lovely MaryAnne

Now I being young and in my prime, as you can plainly see
If I refused a chance like this, what a foolish chap I’d be
So I thanked him for his money and his house and farm of land
And I fell right into the arms of my lovely MaryAnne