jean and edna ritchie sing four marys

[lmhartley]

I've got goosebumps! Sounds just the way my Nana and her sister sang it in Dumfrieshire Scotland in the early 60s! They'd both be over well 100 now and they had it from their mother. The tune is spot on. Brought a tear to my eye.

[JacksonsArmyWife]

That porch has not changed one bit this whole time! cant wait for our next reunion so I can hear my Aunt Jean sIng. Her voice is always lovely

[skylersdad100]

OMG. Two true ladies sitting on the porch singing. There is nothing as heavenly. Thanks so much for posting this.

[crc778Hypnodoc]

Brilliant, does anyone have the words to this song?

[MyMoppet52]

@crc778Hypnodoc This is the song that Joan Baez sings. One of the Mary's got pregnant by the Lord (or King). He promised to protect her, but she was executed. It is a lovely song. I don't have all the words but could find them if you still wanted them. Let me know.

[crc778Hypnodoc]

@MyMoppet52 Yes please if you could, thank you very much

[MyMoppet52]

I am sending words in an email. They don't fit here. Her version is beautiful and has been sung for quite a while. Several years ago I researched & song is a number in the Childs Book...or whatever the official book is called. Her tune is rather different. The story is pretty accurate. It explained who the people were & what happened. It is very sad, since it happened even if in a tiny bit different manner. Hope you enjoy. It is on utube as Mary Hamilton if you want to listen. Enjoy!

[senderti]

amazing video

[idlechatter1234]

Eerie, how alike they sound!!

[slitmjst]

This is pure singing, no gimmicks just talent. I would love to visit the Appalachian area of America and hear more of the old music that has its roots in my homeland Scotland

[Kazzathekat]

I love that you love this song, but actually it's an americanization of a Scottish song (sorry, but as a Scot I've really got to claim it for us ha ha). only best wishes.

[tekunsproductions]

well remember if you learn your history the scottish came to the appalatian area like 500 or so years ago and settled in the mountains where they were isolated from the rest of civilization til' the 1920's where they started to introduced their music to the east coast and thus the term and the birth of (country music) so it's not an americanization of the song it's just ages of scottish music that found its way into america

[slitmjst]

This is an anglizised version of this song, When I learned it at school 55 years ago the first verse was as follows,

Yestreen the queen had four marys

The nicht she'l hae bit three

there was mary Seaton, Mary Beaton, Mary carmichel and me

[georgepickow]

Well, my Dad said HIS grandparents used to sing in in the older language. I guess we got "Appalachianized" over the years. First of our ancestors landed (perhaps in Virginia) from Scotland in 1768. Jean

[leylandat1]

Interesting reply Georgpickow, Its great to hear the auld music is still around in all forms . I,m glad Im not the only auld fogey on youtube. Cheers Tommy

[Kazzathekat]

Aye, that's the version I ken.

[Nefigreenday]

@slitmjst you're right, I found those lyrics in Virgina Wolf's ''A room of one's own''.

[janster200]

There are all sorts of variations on these songs. Nobody sings them the same way. Interesting, isn't it?

[travis101305027]

My grandmother used to sing this song to me at night, good memory  thank you for the post

[rblaustein]

World renowned Appalachian ballad singer and dulcimer player Jean Ritchie (b. 1922) is the youngest of 14 children born to Balis and Abigail Ritchie of Viper, Perry Co KY. In 1917 English folk song scholar Cecil Sharp collected ballads from the Ritchie family. Also known as "Mary Hamilton", "The Four Marys" (Child 173) originated in Scotland some time between the late 16th and early 18th centuries.

[tomitstube]

thank you

[hch49]

This is a treasure. Thank you so much.

[lowellirish]

Ahhh, This is the NICE part of the internet..Lest we forget..

[germansack589]

Thank you for this video. Beautiful song

For some time I heard the music of Jean Ritchie for the first time and admire her work.

In a few days I will have my dulcimer and I look forward to playing songs by Jean.

Greetings from Argentina.

[jeanhoel]

A BIIIG thank you !!!! : )

[vintagerose2]

Thank you for this. It's a glimpse into the past. I feel like I'm on the porch with them.

[peglegsam]

absolutely amazing video, a beauty, thanks a lot for posting jean and george :)