Guitar: Mary Mild (Including lyrics and chords)

878 views · Published 5 July 2009 · 3:04 · Indexed 20 September 2026

Channel: threelegsoman · 2009 · Music

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This somewhat unusual story comes from the singing of The Kingston Trio, one of my favourite American groups of the 1960s. Written by Bob Shane/Tom Drake/Miriam Stafford, it tells of a possible miracle predating the first recorded in the Bible at the wedding feast at Canaa.

Mary Mild
Bob Shane/Tom Drake/Miriam Stafford

Capo at 7th fret so I am really playing and singing in the key of G.
(I could have just played it with chords for the key of G, but for my finger-style picking, I prefer to use chords C, F and G7 as these allow me to pick out parts of the melody as I play.)

C                                                                         F             C            G7 
As it fell out on a warm summer’s day, the drops of rain did fall.
        C                                            F                  C                            G7        C   
Our Saviour asked leave of his mother, Mary, if He might go play at ball.

C                                                                F                      C               G7             
"Go up the hill," His mother said, "and there you will find three jolly children.
       C                                F              C                                  G7        C     
But let me hear no complaint of You when You come home again."

C                                                                      F            C          G7                
But the children said, "We are royal sons and we will not play at ball,
       C                      F                   C                           G7     C       
For You are but a poor maid's child, born in an oxen stall."

C                                                          F             C           G7            
"If you be Lord's and Ladies' sons and you will not play at ball.
     C                                         F                      C                     G7        C    
I'll build you a bridge of the beams of the sun to play upon us all."

C                                                                                                 F            C                 G7
So, He built them a bridge of the beams of the sun and over the pools they played, all three,
             C                                             F                 C                             G7           C
'Til the mothers called, "Mary, call home your child 'ere ours all drownéd be".

C                                                                                    F                C                   G7
Mary mild, Mary mild called home her Child, and when she asked Him: "Why?" said He,
          C                                           F                      C                               G7            C
"Oh, I built them a bridge of the beams of the sun so they would play with me."
                          G7            C
So they would play with me.

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