Air -- "Belle Mahone"

Air -- "Belle Mahone"

Original Text
Mortal refrains: the Complete Collected Poetry, Prose, and Songs of Julia A. Moore, the Sweet Singer of Michigan, ed. Thomas J. Riedlinger (East Lansing: Michigan State University Press, 1998): 37-38. PS 2430 .M3 1998 Robarts Library. The Sentimental Song Book (Grand Rapids, Michigan: C. M. Loomis, 1876).
1Once there was a lady fair,
2    With black eyes and curly hair,
3She has left this world of care,
4    Sweet Carrie Munro.
5CHORUS:
6Sweet Carrie Munro,
7Dear Carrie Munro,
8And her friends will not forget
9Sweet Carrie Munro.
10Now those friends miss Carrie here,
11    For she was loved both far and near,
12She has left them all in tears,
13    Sweet Carrie Munro.
14Carrie's age was twenty-three,
15    A married lady, too, was she --
16A mournful parting had to be,
17    From Carrie Munro.
18Just before her spirit fled
19    Her husband stood by her dying bed;
20"Prove faithful, birdie, to me," said
21    Sweet Carrie Munro.
22Sad will memory pass o'er
23    That loved form that is no more --
24She is waiting on the other shore,
25    Loved Carrie Munro.

Notes

26] A popular song by J. H. McNaughton (A Book of a Thousand Songs, ed. Albert E. Wier (Boston: Carl Fischer, 1918). Soon beyond the harbor bar,
Shall my bark be sailing far,
O'er the world I wander lone,
Sweet Belle Mahone.

CHORUS

Sweet Belle Mahone!
Sweet Belle Mahone!
Wait for me at Heaven's gate,
Sweet Belle Mahone!
O'er thy grave I weep goodbye,
Hear, O hear my lonely cry,
I without thee what am I,
Sweet Belle Mahone.

Lonely like a withered tree,
What is all the world to me?
Life and Light were all in thee,
Sweet Belle Mahone.

Daisies pale are growing o'er
All my heart can e're adore,
Shall I meet thee never more,
Sweet Belle Mahone. Back to Line

RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2004