Set to Music by Mr. R. A. Smith.
MARY, why thus waste thy youthtime in sorrow ?
See a aroun you the flowers sweetly blaw ;
Blythe sets the sun o'er the wild cliffs o Jura, [1]
Blythe sings the mavis in ilka green shaw !"
“How can this heart ever mair think o pleasure,
Simmer may smile, but delight I hae nane ;
Caul in the grave lies my heart's only treasure,
Nature seems deid since my Jamie is gane.
“This kerchief he gave me, a true lover's token,
Dear, dear tae me was the gift for his sake !
I wear't near my heart, but this puir heart is broken,
Hope dee't wi Jamie, an left it tae break.
Sighin for him I lie doun in the e'enin,
Sighin for him I awake in the morn ;
Spent are my days a in secret repinin,
Peace tae this bosom can never return.
“Aft hae we wander'd in sweetest retirement,
Tellin our loves neath the mune's silent beam ;
Sweet war our meetin's o tender endearment,
But fled are these joys like a fleet passing dream.
Cruel Remembrance, ah ! why wilt thou wreck me ?
Broodin o'er joys that for ever are flown ;
Cruel Remembrance, in pity forsake me,
Flee tae some bosom whar grief is unknown!
[1] Jura.—This is the island and parish of that name. It presents to the eye a rough and rugged appearance, and the wild cliffs mentioned by the Author are the conical mountains, called the “Paps of Jura,”—the picturesque landmarks that are seen at a great distance. The sun in setting, referred to by the Poet, when sinking down behind the cliffs into the bosom of his ocean love, is a romantic scene, and was probably seen by the Poet in one of the excursions to the Highlands with kind Will MacNeil, mentioned at page 177.—Ed.[return]
Note by R. A. Smith.—“The music published with this song was originally composed for other words; but Tannahill took a fancy to the air, and immediately wrote ‘Despairing Mary’ for it, which, being the better song, was adopted. The opening of the melody is too like the first part of ‘The Flowers of the Forest’ to lay claim to great originality, but after it was composed I never could please myself with any alteration I attempted to make, so it remains as it was first sketched.”
[Semple 130]