Mary Blane
Encyclopedia
"Mary Blane", also known as "Mary Blain" and other variants, is an American song
that was popularized in the blackface
minstrel show
. Several different versions are known, but all feature a male protagonist singing of his lover Mary Blane, her abduction, and eventual death. "Mary Blane" was by far the most popular female captivity
song in antebellum minstrelsy.
captivity narrative
: A woman is kidnapped or captured and may do no more than await rescue by a male protagonist or suffer at the hands of her captors. In most variants, the male singer and the female victim are married or longtime lovers. The lyrics usually begin by describing the history and current condition of their relationship prior to the abduction:
The identity of Mary Blane's abductors varies. In one edition, "A nigger come to my old hut"; in another "De white man come into my house, / And took poor Mary Blane". Yet another variant makes the captors American Indians
. Another makes them Northern abolitionists
, thus poking fun at the slave rescues carried out by some abolitionists.
The male protagonist then pines for his lost love and wallows in self-pity in later verses and during the chorus
:
The song usually ends tragically, with the lover confused and unable to take action or learning of Mary's death. In the odd version where the lovers are reunited, Mary Blane dies shortly thereafter:
Some variants go into lurid detail about the treatment Mary receives. In one, she is tied to a tree, tarred and feathered
, and ultimately killed. The song thus highlights two of minstrelsy's most common gender
-defined roles: the objectified and silent woman, and the pining male.
Minstrel troupes cobbled together texts from different sources and appended or removed verses. As a result, some editions contain entire verse
s that break the flow of the narrative. Others feature nonsense
verses and stock phrases from other songs that have nothing to do with the song. Some variants may have been intended for certain types of audiences or local to certain regions.
. The first is 36–40 measure
s long and consists of a prelude
, a three-part chorus, and a postlude. The measure count varies with the lengths of the prelude and postlude.
The stage performance of "Mary Blane" is not well known. However, the song is primarily sentimental in nature, so its singer most likely took a maudlin and melodrama
tic approach. The seemingly illogical verses that were often added may have served as comedy
, or they may simply have provided something familiar to audiences and freed up the company to act out scenes, dance, or do other dramatic bits.
. An 1847 edition attributes the song to J. H. Howard. Rival 1848 editions credit Edwin P. Christy or Charles White
and John Hill Hewitt
. The name of F. C. Germon (or German) appears in credits as well.
Regardless of who originally wrote or composed it, "Mary Blane" was by far the most popular song in the lost-lover genre in antebellum blackface minstrelsy. Research by musicologist
William J. Mahar's has found versions of the song in more songsters published between 1843 and 1860 than any other number, edging out such hits as "Miss Lucy Long
" and "Old Dan Tucker
".
American popular music
American popular music had a profound effect on music across the world. The country has seen the rise of popular styles that have had a significant influence on global culture, including ragtime, blues, jazz, swing, rock, R&B, doo wop, gospel, soul, funk, heavy metal, punk, disco, house, techno,...
that was popularized in the blackface
Blackface
Blackface is a form of theatrical makeup used in minstrel shows, and later vaudeville, in which performers create a stereotyped caricature of a black person. The practice gained popularity during the 19th century and contributed to the proliferation of stereotypes such as the "happy-go-lucky darky...
minstrel show
Minstrel show
The minstrel show, or minstrelsy, was an American entertainment consisting of comic skits, variety acts, dancing, and music, performed by white people in blackface or, especially after the Civil War, black people in blackface....
. Several different versions are known, but all feature a male protagonist singing of his lover Mary Blane, her abduction, and eventual death. "Mary Blane" was by far the most popular female captivity
Captivity narrative
Captivity narratives are stories of people captured by "uncivilized" enemies. The narratives often include a theme of redemption by faith in the face of the threats and temptations of an alien way of life. Barbary captivity narratives, stories of Englishmen captured by Barbary pirates, were popular...
song in antebellum minstrelsy.
Lyrics
"Mary Blane" has at least five different sets of lyrics, the most of any song of its type. All tell the same typical Victorian-eraVictorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
captivity narrative
Captivity narrative
Captivity narratives are stories of people captured by "uncivilized" enemies. The narratives often include a theme of redemption by faith in the face of the threats and temptations of an alien way of life. Barbary captivity narratives, stories of Englishmen captured by Barbary pirates, were popular...
: A woman is kidnapped or captured and may do no more than await rescue by a male protagonist or suffer at the hands of her captors. In most variants, the male singer and the female victim are married or longtime lovers. The lyrics usually begin by describing the history and current condition of their relationship prior to the abduction:
- I once did know a pretty Gal,
- And took her for my wife
- She came from LouisianaLouisianaLouisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, - And I lik'd her as my life.
- We happy lib'd togethder
- She nebber caus'd me pain,
- But on one dark and dreary night
- I lost my Mary Blane.
The identity of Mary Blane's abductors varies. In one edition, "A nigger come to my old hut"; in another "De white man come into my house, / And took poor Mary Blane". Yet another variant makes the captors American Indians
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
. Another makes them Northern abolitionists
Abolitionism
Abolitionism is a movement to end slavery.In western Europe and the Americas abolitionism was a movement to end the slave trade and set slaves free. At the behest of Dominican priest Bartolomé de las Casas who was shocked at the treatment of natives in the New World, Spain enacted the first...
, thus poking fun at the slave rescues carried out by some abolitionists.
The male protagonist then pines for his lost love and wallows in self-pity in later verses and during the chorus
Refrain
A refrain is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse; the "chorus" of a song...
:
- Oh, Farewell, Farewell poor Mary Blane
- One Faithful heart will think of you
- Farewell, Farewell poor Mary Blane
- If we ne'er meet again.
The song usually ends tragically, with the lover confused and unable to take action or learning of Mary's death. In the odd version where the lovers are reunited, Mary Blane dies shortly thereafter:
- I took her home unto my hut,
- My heart was in great pain,
- But afore de sun did shone next day
- Gone dead was Mary Blane.
Some variants go into lurid detail about the treatment Mary receives. In one, she is tied to a tree, tarred and feathered
Tarred and Feathered
"Tarred and Feathered" is a song by English punk rock band Dogs and is featured on their debut album, Turn Against This Land. Released on November 28, 2005, it was the fifth and final single taken from the album....
, and ultimately killed. The song thus highlights two of minstrelsy's most common gender
Gender
Gender is a range of characteristics used to distinguish between males and females, particularly in the cases of men and women and the masculine and feminine attributes assigned to them. Depending on the context, the discriminating characteristics vary from sex to social role to gender identity...
-defined roles: the objectified and silent woman, and the pining male.
Minstrel troupes cobbled together texts from different sources and appended or removed verses. As a result, some editions contain entire verse
Stanza
In poetry, a stanza is a unit within a larger poem. In modern poetry, the term is often equivalent with strophe; in popular vocal music, a stanza is typically referred to as a "verse"...
s that break the flow of the narrative. Others feature nonsense
Nonsense
Nonsense is a communication, via speech, writing, or any other symbolic system, that lacks any coherent meaning. Sometimes in ordinary usage, nonsense is synonymous with absurdity or the ridiculous...
verses and stock phrases from other songs that have nothing to do with the song. Some variants may have been intended for certain types of audiences or local to certain regions.
Structure and performance
"Mary Blane" was sung to two entirely different melodiesMelody
A melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...
. The first is 36–40 measure
Bar (music)
In musical notation, a bar is a segment of time defined by a given number of beats of a given duration. Typically, a piece consists of several bars of the same length, and in modern musical notation the number of beats in each bar is specified at the beginning of the score by the top number of a...
s long and consists of a prelude
Prelude (music)
A prelude is a short piece of music, the form of which may vary from piece to piece. The prelude can be thought of as a preface. It may stand on its own or introduce another work...
, a three-part chorus, and a postlude. The measure count varies with the lengths of the prelude and postlude.
The stage performance of "Mary Blane" is not well known. However, the song is primarily sentimental in nature, so its singer most likely took a maudlin and melodrama
Melodrama
The term melodrama refers to a dramatic work that exaggerates plot and characters in order to appeal to the emotions. It may also refer to the genre which includes such works, or to language, behavior, or events which resemble them...
tic approach. The seemingly illogical verses that were often added may have served as comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
, or they may simply have provided something familiar to audiences and freed up the company to act out scenes, dance, or do other dramatic bits.
Composition and popularity
Credits for "Mary Blane" vary. A version in print from 1844 to 1855 credits words to Wellington Guernsey and music to George BarkerGeorge Barker
George Barker may refer to:*George Barker , American portrait and landscape painter*George Barker *George Barker , English poet and author...
. An 1847 edition attributes the song to J. H. Howard. Rival 1848 editions credit Edwin P. Christy or Charles White
Charles "Charlie" White
For the entertainer " 'Cool' White" see John Hodges Charles "Charlie" White , sometimes known as "Charley" White, was an early blackface minstrel entertainer.Born in June 1821, he was originally noted for playing the accordion...
and John Hill Hewitt
John Hill Hewitt
John Hill Hewitt was an American songwriter, playwright, and poet. He is best known for his songs about the American South, including "A Minstrel's Return from the War", "The Soldier's Farewell", "The Stonewall Quickstep", and "Somebody's Darling"...
. The name of F. C. Germon (or German) appears in credits as well.
Regardless of who originally wrote or composed it, "Mary Blane" was by far the most popular song in the lost-lover genre in antebellum blackface minstrelsy. Research by musicologist
Musicology
Musicology is the scholarly study of music. The word is used in narrow, broad and intermediate senses. In the narrow sense, musicology is confined to the music history of Western culture...
William J. Mahar's has found versions of the song in more songsters published between 1843 and 1860 than any other number, edging out such hits as "Miss Lucy Long
Miss Lucy Long
"Miss Lucy Long", also known as "Lucy Long" and other variants, is an American song that was popularized in the blackface minstrel show. A comic banjo tune, the lyrics, written in exaggerated Black Vernacular English, tell of the courtship or marriage of the male singer and the title character...
" and "Old Dan Tucker
Old Dan Tucker
"Old Dan Tucker", also known as "Ole Dan Tucker", "Dan Tucker", and other variants, is a popular American song. Its origins remain obscure; the tune may have come from oral tradition, and the words may have been written by songwriter and performer Dan Emmett...
".