AKA | Bonnie Mary McIntyre |
First Published | 1895 |
Writer/composer | Pat Rafferty / Albert J Hall | Roud | RN22673 |
Music Hall Performers | Tom Costello, Pat Rafferty |
Folk performances | Collected from the singing of: Clissold, Charlie; England : Gloucestershire : 1977 Elm, Don; England : Lincolnshire : 1970 |
From songsheet held at Irish Traditional Music Archive THE BUS or Mary MacIntyre Sung by Pat Rafferty There's only one girl I would have for my wife, And that's Mary — Mary! With her I'd run double harness for life, Mary MacIntyre! Every morn at the break of the day, Coming and going from work ho! so gay, She rides on my bus, but her fare she won't pay, Does Mary MaeIntyre! Mary is young and fair! Mary has golden hair! She rides upon my bus in dear old London! She sits by my side each day, Now she's stole my heart away, And I drive the bus that Mary rides on! I said, "Let's hitch up! and we'll make a fine team! Unto Mary — Mary! You hold the reins — Life will pass like a dream - Mary MacIntyre! But Mary said "No, I'll not hearken your sighs, Till you drive with a handkerchief round your eyes, Your bus over London Bridge,then win the prize Of Mary MacIntyre! Blindfolded I made a most desperate try To win Mary — Mary! And in the old rag made a hole for my eye, And won Mary MacIntyre! I drove just as straight as a shot from a gun, But now we are wed I can't see the fun, I wish London Bridge had fell through when I won Young Mary MacIntyre!
A slightly obscure song from the turn-of-the-century Halls associated with the singing of Irish comic Pat Rafferty and Tom Costello, which featured in the repertoire of traditional singers in the late stages of the 20th century.
At the moment I am unable to access sheet music and cannot find an accessible online recording
Sources:
- Entries in the Roud Indexes at the Vaughn Williams Memorial Library: https://archives.vwml.org/search/all:single[folksong-broadside-books]/0_50/all/score_desc/extended-roudNo_tr%3A22673
- Kilgarrif Sing Us
- Lyrics: Songsheet at ITMA
- Sheet Music:
Last Updated on September 13, 2021 by John Baxter | Published: September 13, 2021