828. Mary Hamilton (Child 173) - (Traditional) - Live

This sixteenth century ballad, from Francis James Child's collection of The English and Scottish Ballads, is also known as "Four Marys". There are many variations but basically it tells the story of Mary Hamilton, one of the "four Marys", who were ladies-in-waiting to Mary Queen of Scots, though, historically, none of them was actually named Mary Hamilton. She bears the illegitimate child of Lord Darnley and murders the baby to cover up the scandal, which is the reason for her execution.

I first heard it sung by Joan Baez, but there are also good renditions by Jean Ritchie and The Corries, among others.

I have put this song up before, but I sang it live recently at a session of The Hong Kong Folk Society at The Canny Man in Wanchai, so thought I would put up the live version as well.

You can watch a playlist of my renditions of the Child ballads:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=B2D0D5657EA394E4

My website is here: raymondcrooke.com

Category:

Music

Tags:

• folk
• song
• traditional
• child
• ballad
• hanging
• four
• marys
• queen
• joan
• baez
• hong
• kong
• society
• canny
• man
• wanchai

[mhefhef123]

Wow I love your version of this, really beautiful! I like your accent with the song too :)

[raymondcrooke]

@mhefhef123 Thank for dropping into The Canny Man.

[cthulee]

Thank you for this song. I have always liked it, but I also enjoy that you give a history behind your songs. Thanks.

[raymondcrooke]

Thank you for your feedback.

[paulbnoble]

beautiful ray,

so this 'four marys'/'mary hamilton' is not the 'mary hamilton' john jacob niles sings.

a pleasant surprise.

thanks for the tunes.

[raymondcrooke]

There are many versions of all of the Child ballads. I think Niles himself did two versions of the song. Thanks for watching.

[raymondcrooke]

Thanks for joining us at The Canny Man, Gari.

[garibelon]

Such a nice rendition!

Crowned with stars... :)

All the best

gari

[raymondcrooke]

So I guess the Scottish accent wasn't very successful! :- )

[CurtisMateer]

You could be Irish in this one almost. Finely sung and grandly played as well.