Michael Jesse Owens & Anne Byrne - The Four Marys, 1965

 

Word is to the kitchen gone, and word is to the hall

And word is up to madam the queen, and that's the worst of all

That Mary Hamilton has borne a babe

To the highest Stuart of all.

Arise, arise Mary Hamilton

Arise and tell to me

What thou hast done with thy wee babe

I saw and heard weep by thee?

I put him in a tiny boat

And cast him out to sea

That he might sink or he might swim

But he'd never come back to me.

Arise arise Mary Hamilton

Arise and come with me

There is a wedding in Glasgow town

This night we'll go and see.

And as she rode into Glasgow town

The city for to see

The bailiff's wife and the provost's wife

Cried out and alas for thee.

Then by them come the king himself

Looked up with a pitiful eye

Come down, come down Mary Hamilton

This night you will dine with me.

Oh hold your tongue, my sovereign liege

And let your folly be

For if you'd a mind to save my life

You would never have shamed me here.

Last night the queen had four Marys

Tonight there'll be but three

There was Mary Seton and Mary Beaton

And Mary Carmichael and me.

      Anne Byrne was born in Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin in 1943. She was gifted with a beautiful singing voice which became apparent at an early age, earning her many awards and recognition even in her teens. Soon her talents were noticed and she found herself recording and touring with a singer called Jesse Owens, playing popular ballads and folk songs. They recorded two albums together and she began to make a name for herself both in Ireland and internationally. She toured much of Europe at this time.

      Anne recorded many of the best Irish and English folk songs, performing outstanding renditions of The Foggy Dew, Willie O'Winsbury and The Wind That Shakes the Barley. She also covered songs by Bob Dylan, Gordon Lighfoot and Eric Anderson. Her music became popular in the United States and she lived and toured there during this period, even getting to play the famous Newport Folk Festival. She also started a family, marrying Patrick Roche, a musician and artist, and had three children, Patrick, Jason and Oisin.

      Alas, the pressure of touring and recording while bringing up a young family was too much to bear and Anne retired from singing professionally in 1980, devoting the rest of her life to her family and friends.

      Sadly she passed away on the 28th December 2020 and is survived by her husband. Jason and Oisin. Patrick died in infancy.