Mary's Wedding
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"Mairi's Wedding" (also known as Marie's Wedding, the Lewis Bridal Song, or "Blond Mary") is a
Scottish Scottish usually refers to something of, from, or related to Scotland, including: *Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family native to Scotland *Scottish English *Scottish national identity, the Scottish ide ...
folk song Folk music is a music genre that includes #Traditional folk music, traditional folk music and the Contemporary folk music, contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be ca ...
originally written in
Gaelic Gaelic (pronounced for Irish Gaelic and for Scots Gaelic) is an adjective that means "pertaining to the Gaels". It may refer to: Languages * Gaelic languages or Goidelic languages, a linguistic group that is one of the two branches of the Insul ...
by John Roderick Bannerman (1865–1938) for
Mary C. MacNiven Mary Connell MacNiven, born McNiven and sometimes billed as Mrs Campbell/Mrs John Campbell (15 September 1905 – 25 March 1997) was an award-winning Gaelic singer and the inspiration behind the famous Scottish song ''Mairi's Wedding''. Early ...
(1905–1997) on the occasion of her winning the gold medal at the National Mòd in 1934. In 1959, James B. Cosh devised a
Scottish country dance Scottish country dance (SCD) is the distinctively Scottish form of country dance, itself a form of social dance involving groups of couples of dancers tracing progressive patterns. A dance consists of a sequence of figures. These dances are ...
to the tune, which is 40 bars, in
reel A reel is a tool used to store elongated and flexible objects (e.g. yarns/ cords, ribbons, cables, hoses, etc.) by wrapping the material around a cylindrical core known as a '' spool''. Many reels also have flanges (known as the ''rims'') arou ...
time.


Origins

J. R. Bannerman, who composed the original song, was born in
South Uist South Uist (, ; ) is the second-largest island of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland. At the 2011 census, it had a usually resident population of 1,754: a decrease of 64 since 2001. The island, in common with the rest of the Hebrides, is one of the ...
but left aged seven for Glasgow, where he later joined the
General Post Office The General Post Office (GPO) was the state postal system and telecommunications carrier of the United Kingdom until 1969. Established in England in the 17th century, the GPO was a state monopoly covering the dispatch of items from a specific ...
(GPO) as a telegraph boy and rose to become general superintendent. He was brought up in the Glasgow Gaelic community where most social activities were conducted in
Gaelic Gaelic (pronounced for Irish Gaelic and for Scots Gaelic) is an adjective that means "pertaining to the Gaels". It may refer to: Languages * Gaelic languages or Goidelic languages, a linguistic group that is one of the two branches of the Insul ...
and he developed a lifelong interest in the songs and literature of that culture.Bannerman J.M, Fowler, J. ''Bannerman;the memoirs of Lord Bannerman of Kildonan''. Aberdeen, Impulse Books, 1972. His son, John MacDonald Bannerman, became a well-known Gaelic broadcaster and singer, but was better known as a rugby international (37 caps for Scotland; Oxford Blue) and Liberal politician, ultimately being ennobled as
John Bannerman, Baron Bannerman of Kildonan John MacDonald Bannerman, Baron Bannerman of Kildonan OBE (1 September 1901 – 10 May 1969; Scottish Gaelic: Iain mac Iain Mac-a'-Bhrataich) was a Scottish farmer, rugby union internationalist and Liberal politician. Family and education Bor ...
. Mairi's Wedding was composed to recognise winning the
Mòd A mòd is a festival of Scottish Gaelic song, arts and culture. Historically, the Gaelic word ''mòd'' (), which came from Old Norse ''mót'', refers to a Viking Age '' Thing'' or a similar kind of assembly. There are both local mòds, and an an ...
gold medal, which is regarded as the highest singing award in Scottish Gaeldom. A track of Mary C. MacNiven singing her winning song at the 1934 Mòd is still available and the Mòd has founded a memorial salver competition to honour her name. Her wedding did not in fact take place until some six years later when she married Captain John Campbell of Glendale,
Skye The Isle of Skye, or simply Skye, is the largest and northernmost of the major islands in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate from a mountainous hub dominated by the Cuillin, the rocky slopes of which provide some o ...
. She continued to sing at Gaelic concerts and céilidhs for most of her life, and died aged 91 at her native Portnahaven, Islay in 1997. The song "Mairi's Wedding" was first performed for her at the Highlanders' Institute, then in Glasgow's Elmbank Street, and, at that time, a focal point of cultural and social activity for the Highlands and Islands community in the city. It was probably through this performance that Sir Hugh Roberton came to know the song. Roberton was conductor of the
Glasgow Orpheus Choir The Glasgow Orpheus Choir was founded in Glasgow, Scotland in 1906 by Hugh S. Roberton. It originated in the Toynbee Musical Association, which had been created in 1901. The Glasgow Orpheus Choir came to be considered without peer in Britain, an ...
,Orpheus with his lute. A Glasgow Orpheus Choir anthology. Selected and edited by Hugh S Roberton and Kenneth Roberton. Pergamon Press, 1972 which had by the early 1930s acquired international recognition under his leadership. His knighthood in 1931, promoted by his friend
Ramsay MacDonald James Ramsay MacDonald (; 12 October 18669 November 1937) was a British statesman and politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The first two of his governments belonged to the Labour Party (UK), Labour Party, where he led ...
, whose radical politics he shared, established him as the leading British choirmaster and a towering figure within the Glasgow musical world. Although the choir had a vast repertoire, Roberton had inherited a particular fondness for folk music from his mother, and in addition to writing choral arrangements of traditional songs, he composed his own. Roberton had collaborated with John R. Bannerman on other songs destined to become internationally successful. For the song "Joy of my Heart" Roberton wrote the English lyrics and asked Bannerman to produce a Gaelic version; the tune for the "
Uist Tramping Song The "Uist Tramping Song", "Null do dh'Uidhist" ''(Over to Uist)'' or "Tiugainn Leam" ''(Come With Me)'' is a traditional Scottish folk song, Gaelic lyrics by Archibald MacDonald, music by John R. Bannerman, arranged by Hugh S. Roberton. The song ...
" was written by Bannerman with the English words by Roberton. John M. Bannerman claimed that his father had written the tune for the song "
Westering Home "Westering Home" is a traditional Scottish folk song that was written by Hugh S. Roberton in the 1920s. The lyrics of the song talk about the Scottish Island of Islay. It was subsequently adopted as the slow march of the Royal Navy. Lyrics I ...
" yet this was not acknowledged in Roberton's published scores. In a London court case in 1960 Sir Hugh's executors failed to prove that he had written the tune and costs were awarded to Miss (later Dame)
Vera Lynn Dame Vera Margaret Lynn (; 20 March 1917 – 18 June 2020) was an English singer and entertainer whose musical recordings and performances were very popular during World War II. She is Honorific nicknames in popular music, honorifically known ...
who had recorded "Travellin' Home" to the same tune, a recording which made 20th place in the music charts. Roberton wrote the English words for "Mairi's Wedding", which, as can be seen by the lyrics below in both languages, bore little resemblance to Bannerman's original and make no reference to the original inspiration for the song, the winning of a Mòd gold medal. He published this in 1936, giving the song the alternative title of "The Lewis Bridal Song". Roberton presented an original signed copy of his score to Mary C. MacNiven and it became one of her most prized possessions. When the song was published in Roberton's "Songs of the Isles" by J Curwen & Sons Ltd (1951), the Gaelic words did not appear. J.R. Bannerman was acknowledged as the composer of the original lyrics and tune.


Lyrics

Bannerman's Gaelic version, with a literal translation into English by
Anne Lorne Gillies Anne Lorne Gillies MA, PhD, LRAM, PGCE, Dr h.c. () is a Scottish singer, writer, and activist. Early life Gillies was born in Stirling, Scotland in 1944 and moved to Oban at the age of 5. She attended Rockfield Primary School and Oban High ...
, is:
Sir Hugh Roberton's lyrics begin with the chorus:
Step we gaily, on we go, Heel for heel and toe for toe, Arm and arm and row on row, All for Mairi's wedding. Over hill-ways up and down, Myrtle green and
bracken Bracken (''Pteridium'') is a genus of large, coarse ferns in the family (biology), family Dennstaedtiaceae. Ferns (Pteridophyta) are vascular plants that undergo alternation of generations, having both large plants that produce spores and small ...
brown, Past the
shieling A shieling () is a hut or collection of huts on a seasonal pasture high in the hills, once common in wild or sparsely populated places in Scotland. Usually rectangular with a doorway on the south side and few or no windows, they were often c ...
s, through the town; All for sake o' Mairi. Red her cheeks as rowans are, Bright her eye as any star, Fairest o' them a' by far, Is our darling Mairi. Plenty herring, plenty meal, Plenty peat to fill her creel, Plenty bonnie bairns as weel; That's the toast for Mairi.


Recorded versions

Mairi's Wedding has been recorded by a wide variety of musicians. *
Alexander Brothers The Alexander Brothers were an easy-listening folk-music duo from Scotland, who had a long career beginning in the 1950s. Career Thomas Armit "Tom" Alexander (25 June 1934 – 9 January 2020) and John "Jack" Armit Alexander (11 November 1935 ...
"Best of" *
Moira Anderson Moira Anderson (born 5 June 1938) is a Scottish singer. Life and career Moira Anderson was born on 5 June 1938 in Kirkintilloch, Dunbartonshire, Scotland. She was educated at Lenzie Academy, She then attended the Royal Scottish Academy of Mus ...
on "The Best of Scotland: Twenty Tracks of Traditional Scottish Music" *
Moira Anderson Moira Anderson (born 5 June 1938) is a Scottish singer. Life and career Moira Anderson was born on 5 June 1938 in Kirkintilloch, Dunbartonshire, Scotland. She was educated at Lenzie Academy, She then attended the Royal Scottish Academy of Mus ...
, "A Land for All Seasons" *
Bantry Bay Bantry Bay () is a bay located in County Cork, Ireland. The bay runs approximately from northeast to southwest into the Atlantic Ocean. It is approximately 3-to-4 km (1.8-to-2.5 miles) wide at the head and wide at the entrance. Geograp ...
, "Set the Sails" *
Van Morrison Sir George Ivan "Van" Morrison (born 31 August 1945) is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician whose recording career started in the 1960s. Morrison's albums have performed well in the UK and Ireland, with more than 40 reaching the UK ...
and
The Chieftains The Chieftains were a traditional Irish folk band formed in Dublin in 1962, by Paddy Moloney, Seán Potts and Michael Tubridy. Their sound, which is almost entirely instrumental and largely built around uilleann pipes, has become synonymous w ...
, " Irish Heartbeat" *
Bobby Clancy Robert Joseph 'Bobby' Clancy Jr (11 May 1927 – 6 September 2002) was an Irish singer and musician best known as a member of The Clancy Brothers, one of the most successful and influential Irish folk groups. He accompanied his songs on five-s ...
, "Make Me a Cup" *
The Clancy Brothers The Clancy Brothers were an influential Irish folk music group that developed initially as a part of the American folk music revival. Most popular during the 1960s, they were famed for their Aran jumpers and are widely credited with popularisi ...
, " The Boys Won't Leave The Girls Alone," "Carnegie Hall 1962," " In Person at Carnegie Hall: The Complete 1963 Concert," and " Ain't It Grand Boys" *
Billy Connolly Sir William Connolly (born 24 November 1942) is a Scottish actor, musician, television presenter, artist and retired stand-up comedian. He is sometimes known by the Scots nickname the Big Yin ("the Big One"). Known for his idiosyncratic and of ...
played a comical version on the
banjo The banjo is a stringed instrument with a thin membrane stretched over a frame or cavity to form a resonator. The membrane is typically circular, and in modern forms is usually made of plastic, where early membranes were made of animal skin. ...
in a medley with Campbell's Farewell To The Red Castle, and The Soldier's Joy (songs which he claimed his music teacher forced him and the rest of his class to "appreciate"). *
The Corries The Corries were a Scottish folk group that emerged from the Scottish folk revival of the early 1960s. The group was a trio from their formation until 1966 when founder Bill Smith left the band but Roy Williamson and Ronnie Browne contin ...
, "Kishmul's Galley" *
Paul Dooley Paul Dooley (born Paul Brown; February 22, 1928) is an American character actor. He is known for his roles in '' Breaking Away'', ''Popeye'', '' Strange Brew'', '' Sixteen Candles'' and various Christopher Guest mockumentaries. He co-created the ...
"Rip the Calico" *
Fiddler's Green Fiddler's Green is an after-life where there is perpetual mirth, a fiddle that never stops playing, and dancers who never tire. In 19th-century English maritime folklore, it was a kind of after-life for sailors who had served at least fifty ye ...
, "Drive Me Mad!" *
Clive Gregson Clive James Gregson (born 4 January 1955, Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside, England) is an English singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. He has toured in bands, provided backup for well-known musicians, and written songs that have been cov ...
used the same tune for a song called "Mary's Divorce" on his album '' People & Places'' *
The High Kings The High Kings is an Folk music of Ireland, Irish folk group formed in Dublin in 2008. The band consists of Finbarr Clancy, Brian Dunphy, Darren Holden (musician), Darren Holden, and Paul O'Brien. As of 2023, the group had released five studio ...
, "The High Kings" * Noel Hill, "The Irish Concertina Two" * The
King's Singers The King's Singers are a British a cappella Choir, vocal ensemble founded in 1968. They are named after King's College, Cambridge, King's College in Cambridge, England, where the group was formed by six Choir of King's College, Cambridge, chor ...
, "Annie Laurie: Folk Songs of the British Isles" * The
King's Singers The King's Singers are a British a cappella Choir, vocal ensemble founded in 1968. They are named after King's College, Cambridge, King's College in Cambridge, England, where the group was formed by six Choir of King's College, Cambridge, chor ...
, "Mairi's Wedding" *
Marillion Marillion are a British neo-prog band, formed in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, in 1979. They emerged from the post-punk music scene in Britain and existed as a bridge between the styles of punk rock and classic progressive rock, becoming the mo ...
, "Margaret" *
John Martyn Iain David McGeachy (11 September 1948 – 29 January 2009), known professionally as John Martyn, was a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. Over a 40-year career, he released 23 studio albums and received frequent critical acclaim. ...
, as part of the original song, "The Message" * Kenneth McKellar on "Wild Conserves" *
Orthodox Celts Orthodox Celts is a Serbian band (music), band formed in Belgrade in 1992 which plays Folk music of Ireland, Irish folk music combined with Rock music, rock elements. Despite their uncharacteristic genre in their home country, the band has been ...
, on the album ''
Green Roses ''Green Roses'' is the third studio album by the Serbian Irish folk/Celtic rock band Orthodox Celts released in 1999. ''Green Roses'' features sixteen songs, half of which were covers of traditional songs, and the other half the band's original so ...
'' (1999) *
The Rankin Family The Rankin Family (also known as The Rankins) are a Canadian musical family group from Mabou, Nova Scotia. The group has won many Canadian music awards, including 15 East Coast Music Awards, six Juno Awards, four Society of Composers, Authors, an ...
taking it to number one in
Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
. From the album ''
The Rankin Family The Rankin Family (also known as The Rankins) are a Canadian musical family group from Mabou, Nova Scotia. The group has won many Canadian music awards, including 15 East Coast Music Awards, six Juno Awards, four Society of Composers, Authors, an ...
'', 1989. *
Rapalje Rapalje is a Dutch Celtic folk band which performs Irish, Scottish and Dutch folk music and sings in English as well as in Dutch. The band consists of William van der Laan, David Myles, and Marcel "Maceál" Meijer. Former member Dieb den Boer left ...
, "Rakish Paddies" * Marie's Wedding is the basis for the guitar solo in "Skye," by Scottish band
Runrig Runrig were a Scottish Celtic rock band formed on the Isle of Skye in 1973. From its inception, the band's line-up included brothers and songwriters Rory MacDonald (musician), Rory MacDonald (bass, vocals) and Calum MacDonald (musician), Calum ...
. * Andy Stewart, " Donald Where's Your Troosers?" *
Alan Stivell Alan Stivell (; born Alan Cochevelou on 6 January 1944) is a Breton people, Breton and Celtic musician and singer, songwriter, recording artist, and master of the Celtic harp. From the early 1970s, he revived global interest in the Celtic (specif ...
, "Brian Boru" *
Richard Thompson Richard Thompson may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Richard Thompson (animator) (1914–1998), Warner Bros. cartoon animator in the 1950s * Richard Thompson (cartoonist) (1957–2016), cartoonist who also worked as an illustrator * Richard Tho ...
, as an instrumental coda to "Nobody's Wedding" on ''
Henry the Human Fly ''Henry the Human Fly'' is the debut solo album by Richard Thompson, his first release following his leaving former group Fairport Convention. It was released on the Island label in the U.K. and the Reprise label in the U.S.A. in April 1972. The ...
'' *
The Wiggles The Wiggles are an Australian children's music group formed in Sydney in 1991. As of 2022, the group members are Anthony Field, Lachlan Gillespie, Simon Pryce, Tsehay Hawkins, Evie Ferris, John Pearce (entertainer), John Pearce, Caterina Mete ...
, "Hoop Dee Doo" * Robert Wilson, "The Voice of Scotland" *
Ferocious Dog Ferocious Dog are an English folk punk band from Warsop, Nottinghamshire, England. The band has headlined tours of the UK and Europe, performed in Dubai, festivals such as Bearded Theory, Alchemy, Deerstock, Farmer Phil's Festival, Splendour ...
, on the album Ferocious Dog (2013) recorded a sequel to the song, Mairi's Wedding Part II *
Ferocious Dog Ferocious Dog are an English folk punk band from Warsop, Nottinghamshire, England. The band has headlined tours of the UK and Europe, performed in Dubai, festivals such as Bearded Theory, Alchemy, Deerstock, Farmer Phil's Festival, Splendour ...
, on the album From Without (2015) recorded a final sequel to the song, Mairi's Wedding Part III *
10,000 Maniacs 10,000 Maniacs are an American alternative rock band founded in 1981. They have released nine studio albums, six EPs, and five live albums. They achieved their most significant success between 1987 and 1993, when they released four albums that c ...
, on the album '' Twice Told Tales'' (2015) * Brogue, "Rhythm of the Celts", 2007 *
The Tossers The Tossers are an American six-piece Celtic punk band from Chicago, Illinois, United States, formed in July 1993. They have toured with Murphy's Law, Streetlight Manifesto, Catch 22, Dropkick Murphys, The Reverend Horton Heat, Flogging Mol ...
"Smash the windows" 2017


Use in Film

*
Jim Corr James Steven Ignatius Corr (born 31 July 1964) is an Irish musician, singer, songwriter and DJ. He is a member of the Irish folk/rock band the Corrs, the other members being his three younger sisters Andrea, Sharon and Caroline. Musical ca ...
wrote two additional verses for the movie '' Passed Away''. They are the only ones heard clearly in the movie. * The song appears in the deleted scenes of the 3-disc special edition DVD of
Peter Jackson Sir Peter Robert Jackson (born 31 October 1961) is a New Zealand filmmaker. He is best known as the director, writer, and producer of the ''Lord of the Rings'' trilogy (2001–2003) and the ''Hobbit'' trilogy (2012–2014), both of which ar ...
's 2005 version of ''
King Kong King Kong, also referred to simply as Kong, is a fictional giant monster resembling a gorilla, who has appeared in various media since 1933. The character has since become an international pop culture icon,Erb, Cynthia, 1998, ''Tracking Kin ...
''. It is heard while
Naomi Watts Naomi Ellen Watts (born 28 September 1968) is a British actress. Known for her work predominantly in independent films with dark or tragic themes, she has received various accolades, including nominations for two Academy Awards, a Primetime ...
and
Jamie Bell Andrew James Matfin Bell (born 14 March 1986) is an English actor. He rose to prominence for his debut role in ''Billy Elliot'' (2000), for which he won the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, becoming one of the youngest winners of ...
are dancing on the deck of the tramp steamer ''Venture'' as it steams toward
Skull Island Skull Island may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Skull Island (King Kong) Skull Island is the name most often used to describe a fictional island that first appeared in the 1933 film ''King Kong'' and later appearing in its sequels, the thr ...
. The song is not heard in the movie itself, however, so it is not clear whether its presence on the DVD is the result of film score composer
James Newton Howard James Newton Howard (born June 9, 1951) is an American film composer, orchestrator and music producer. He has scored over 100 films and is the recipient of a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, and nine nominations for Academy Awards. His film scores ...
, who replaced
Howard Shore Howard Leslie Shore (born October 18, 1946) is a Canadian composer, conductor and orchestrator noted for his film scores. He has composed the scores for over 80 films, most notably the scores for ''The Lord of the Rings'' and '' The Hobbit'' fi ...
, Shore himself, or the producer of the DVD. *The first two lines of "Mairi's Wedding" are quoted by the Scottish protagonist in the 2011 comedy film ''
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen ''Salmon Fishing in the Yemen'' is a 2011 British romantic comedy drama film directed by Lasse Hallström. The film stars Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt, Kristin Scott Thomas and Amr Waked. Based on the 2007 novel of the same name by Paul Tor ...
'', and an excerpt from the Brigham Phillips version of the song later plays in the soundtrack.


References


External links

*
Standing Stones

Mudcat Cafe message board threads

Video with Jimmy Shand playing and dancing
(blocked by YouTube in some countries, including the United States)
Information on origin and dance instructions
{{Authority control Wedding songs Scottish folk songs Outer Hebrides Van Morrison songs Marriage, unions and partnerships in Scotland