Mary Mack (folk song)
Mary Mack is a Scottish folk song, and is also a patter song, often sung not only with a rapid to very rapid tempo but increasing toward the end. Recordings The definitive version of Mary Mack is, perhaps, the live version on the 1977 double album "Makem & Clancy Concert," performed live at National Stadium Dublin by the late great Irish troubadours, Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy. "Mary Mac" has long been a fixture of Richmond, Virginia band Carbon Leaf's live sets. A studio recording appears on their 2001 album Echo Echo and a live recording on their 2003 album 5 Alive!. Another recording was done by Great Big Sea on their 1995 album Up, which is well-known throughout Canada. Another recording was done by Fiddler's Green (band) on their 1998 album Spin Around, which was recorded in Los Angeles. Lyrics There's a nice wee lass an her name is Mary Mack Mak nae mistake, she's the miss I'm gaun tae tak There's a lot o ither chaps wha would get up on her track But I'm thinkin they'll hae tae get up early. Chorus: Mary Mack's faither's makin Mary Mack mairy me My faither's makin me mairy Mary Mack An I'm gaun tae mairy Mary tae get mairrit an tak care o me We'll aw be makin merry when I mairy Mary Mack Chorus This wee lass she haes a lot of brass She haes a lot of gas, her faither thinks I'm class An I'd be a silly ass tae let the matter pass For her faither thinks she suits me fairly. Chorus Noo Mary an her mither gang an awful lot thegither In fact you niver see the wan, or the wan withoot the ither An the fellows often wonder if its Mary or her mither Or the baith o them thegether that I'm courtin. Chorus Noo the weddin day's on Wednesday an everythin's arranged Her name will soon be changed tae mine, unless her mind be changed An we're makin the arrangements, faith, I'm just aboot deranged For mairriage is an awfu undertakin. Chorus It's sure tae be a grand affair an grander than a fair A coach an pair for rich an poor an every pair that's there We'll dine upon the finest fare, I'm sure tae get ma share If I don't we'll aw be very much mistaken. Chorus There are many renditions of this song: Here are the lyrics to another version, with mother instead of father in the chorus: Chorus Mary Mack's mother's making Mary Mack marry me, My mother's making me marry Mary Mack. I'm gonna marry Mary so my Mary will take care O' me, We'll all be feeling merry when I marry Mary Mack. Now there's a nice wee lass and her name is Mary Mack, Make no mistake she's the girl I gonna take, And a lot of other fella's would get upon her track, but I'm thinkin' they'll have to get up early. Chorus Now this wee