MARY'S A GRAND OLD NAME

From the Broadway Show "Forty-Five Minutes from Broadway" (1906)

(George M. Cohan)


Fay Templeton (Broadway Production) - 1906

Dick Todd - 1938

Judy Garland (feat. in the film "Babes On Broadway") - 1941

James Cagney & Sally Sweetland (feat. in the film "Yankee Doodle Dandy") - 1942

Irene Manning (feat. in the film "Yankee Doodle Dandy") - 1942

Bing Crosby (with John Scott Trotter & His Orch.) - 1942

Sammy Kaye & His Orch. - 1942

Mickey Rooney (with Van Alexander & His Orch.) - 1957

Frank Fontaine - 1962


Also recorded by: 

Glen Daly; Allen Dale;  Larry Blyden & Tammy Grimes.




My mother's name was Mary, she was so good and true

Because her name was Mary, she called me Mary too

She wasn't gay or airy, but plain as she could be

I'd hate to meet a Mary who called herself Marie **


For it is Mary, Mary, plain as any name can be

But with propriety, society will say Marie

But it was Mary, Mary, long before the fashions came

And there is something there that sounds so square

It's a grand old name


Now, when her name is Mary, there is no falseness there

When to Marie she'll vary, she'll surely bleach her hair

Though Mary's ordinary, Marie is fair to see

Don't ever fear sweet Mary, beware of sweet Marie


For it is Mary, Mary, plain as any name can be

But with propriety, society will say Marie

But it was Mary, Mary, long before the fashions came

And there is something there that sounds so square

It's a grand old name



** The original lyric for this line was

"I hate to meet a fairy who calls herself Marie"



(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - June 2014)