78
Mary of the Wild Moor
For the popularity of this song both in print and in tradition,
see BSM 207, and add to the references there given Virginia (FSV
70-1), Florida (SFLQ viii 185-6), Arkansas (OFS i 312-13), Mis-
souri (OFS I 311-12, 313-14), Ohio (BSO 209-10), and Indiana
(BSI 246-7). Miss Gardner lists it as found in Michigan (BSSM
481) but does not print a text. Since it is frequently printed, the
texts recorded from tradition do not differ greatly.
'Mary of the Wild Moor.' Reported by L. W. Anderson as collected
from Mrs. Lx)rena Beasley of Nag's Head, Dare county. The same
text was reported, in May 1920, by P. D. Midgett of Wanchese, Roanoke
Island, with the air to which it was sung. There is a closely similar
text in the Blaylock Collection.
266 NORTH CAROLINA FOLKLORE
1 It was on one cold winter's night
And the winds blew across the wild moor
When Mary came wandering home with her babe
Till she came to her father's door.
2 *Oh, father, dear father,' she cried,
'Come down and open the door,
Or the child in my arms will perish and die
By the winds that blow across the wild moor.
3 'Oh, why did I leave this dear spot
When once I was happy and free?
But now I'm to roam without friends or a home
And no one to take pity on me.'
4 But the old man was deaf to her cries.
Not a sound of her voice reached his ears.
The village bells tolled ....
And the winds blew across the wild moor.
5 Oh. how must the old man have felt
When he came to the door in the morn?
Poor Mary was dead ; the child was alive,
Closely pressed in its dear^ mother's arms.
6 Half frantic he tore his grey hair
And the tears down his cheeks they did pour,
Saying, 'This cold night she has perished and died
By the winds that blow across the wild moor.'
7 The old man in grief pined away.
The child to its mother went soon.
And no one. they say. has lived there to this day,
And the cottage to ruin has gone.
8 The villagers point out the spot
Where the willow droops over the door.
Saying, 'There Mary died, once a gay village bride,
By the winds that blow across the wild moor.'
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78
Mary of the Wild Moor
'Mary of the Wild Moor.' Sung by anonymous singer. Recorded as ms score
at Wanchese, Roanoke Island, in May 1920. This song is an excellent example
of what can be accomplished with almost nothing to start with. The entire
melody is almost completely built of the pattern formed by the first three notes,
its inversion and transposition.
For melodic relationship of. **ASb 466 ; *OFS i 313, No. 72C, measure 5
Scale: Heptachordal, plagal. Tonal Center: f. Structure: abed (2,2,2,2).