I'LL BE THERE, MARY DEAR
(aka MARY DEAR)
(aka GOODBYE, MARY DEAR))
(Andrew B. Sterling / Harry Von Tilzer)


Byron G. Harlan - 1902
Roy Harvey & The North Carolina Ramblers - 1928
Richard Harold - 1929
Charlie Poole - 1929
Lester McFarland & Robert A. Gardner - 1931
Roy Harvey & Jess Johnson - 1931
Gene Autry - 1940
Bill Clifton - 1957
Darrell McCall - 2004

Also recorded by:
Larry Sigmon & Barbara Poole; Country Gentlemen.


"Goodbye, Mary. I must go"
Said a lad, "Now don't grieve so
For it's duty calls me far across the sea"
"Take this autumn leaf of gold"
Said the maid, "'Twill ne'er grow old
Always wear it next to your heart and think of me"

"Meet me yonder down the lane
When I come back home again
'Neath the tree where this golden leaf once grew
Kiss me, Mary, then we'll part"
Said the lad with a broken heart
"When the leaves begin to fall, I'll be with you"

"I'll be there, Mary dear, I'll be there
When the fragrance of the roses fills the air
'Neath that old tree grand and tall
When the leaves begin to fall,
I'll be there, yes, I'll be there, sweet Mary dear"

See the lad with empty sleeve
Of his comrades taking leave
They were home again, the transport had come back
"If she loved you long ago,
She won't love you less, I know
But one arm will do to hold her to you, Jack"

It was autumn time again
As he wandered down the lane
There beneath that old oak tree he found a grave
So he knelt in silent prayer
For the one he loved slept there
As the tears fell on the golden leaf she gave

"I'll be there, Mary dear, I'll be there
When the fragrance of the roses fills the air
'Neath that old tree grand and tall
When the leaves begin to fall
I'll be there, yes, I'll be there, sweet Mary dear"


*****


As recorded by DARRELL McCALL:


"Goodbye Mary, I must go"
Said a lad, "Now don't weep so"
For only duty calls me far across the sea
We were married in the Spring
And the birds begin to sing
When the leaves begin to fall, I'll be with you

I'll be there, Mary dear, I'll be there
When the fragrance of the roses fill the air
By that oak tree, grand and tall
When the leaves begin to fall
I'll be there, yes I'll be there, sweet Mary dear

(Instrumental Break)

It was Autumn time again
As I wandered down the lane
There beneath that old oak tree, I saw a grave
And there I knelt in silent prayer
For the one I love lay there
And my tears fell on the golden leaves she gave

I'll be there, Mary dear, I'll be there
When the fragrance of the roses fill the air
And by that oak tree, grand and tall
When the leaves begin to fall
I'll be there, yes I'll be there, sweet Mary dear
I'll be there, yes I'll be there, sweet Mary dear


(Transcribed by Monique Adriaansen & Mel Priddle - February 2006)


*****