Old Mary

8 weeks ago by @lbrewington

Liner Notes

The SongSidekick Song Circle prompt this week was making a song mystery and to use clues in the song to make the listener figure it out. I had to think about this one and played a bunch of riddle and mystery songs for inspiration.

I eventually decided to write a ghost story based upon a tale told to me by a high school theatre teacher. I feel like I left plenty unsaid and hopefully dropped enough clues to help figure out what is going on.

As folk tradition allows, this is of course based on a true story, and to this very day there are still accounts of Old Mary haunting the grounds near the river of the home that was eventually tore down.

There are many accounts of ghosts, or more accurately vengeful spirits, mimicking the sounds of abandoned children or pleading with others to help them find their baby in order to lure them away from safety.

This song seeks to remind the listener of what they should do if such a spirit would target them.

#songsidekicksongcircle #mysterious #folklore

Took about 4.5 hours from start to final demo upload.

Lyrics

irving was a train conductor
drove engine twenty two

from johnson city to elizabethton
hamptons where his final whistle blew

tanner's was the finest diner
that the city had ever known

and the pie they plied
brought irvin around every single time

e am
she was only sixteen
e am
her family saw a good man

Ddim Eaug
the put her on a train the very next day
e am
and he brought old mary home

she was soon pregnant
rounder than pumpkin

filled with grace
and a touch out of place
the yard boys would stare her down

irving was the jealous kind
older than the olden time

he told the locals
that hard times where on em
had to send Mary back hometown

e am
if you hear her pleading
e am
have you seen my baby

better take this advice

make like a train whistle fading

and leave ole mary alone

irving died retired
in that house that he owned

no family or friends
no next of kin

the sale of his estate
was fixed on a date
and what they found was ruin

to this very day the townies will say
you can see old mary walking around

e am
if you hear her pleading
e am
have you seen my baby

better take this advice

make like a train whistle fading

and leave ole mary alone

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