bob pendarvis: song lyrics

i invited my dad to help out on the LOW COUNTRY LADY album and asked him to contribute a song or two. MARY, based on a famous st. simons ghost story, was written specifically for the album. we recorded it a few Christmases ago and my uncle john (john peck to you people) was kind enough to provide all the instrumentation (guitar, mandolin, and fiddle). my dad and my uncle john were both huge influences on my decision to become a musician, so having them on this album is a special treat. for those of you keeping track, this is the only song on the album that i had virtually nothing to do with (i produced the track, but that's about it). my dad also wound up singing two more songs, both written by me, but this track is all his.

mary was the fairest girl
upon st. simons isle
a sweet and gentle spirit
the lighthouse keeper's
child
and many men pursued her
but she let no one stay
till a sailor's smile beguiled her
and he stole her heart away

he kissed her and he held her
as they walked out on the sand
he placed a ring upon her finger
sand she a locket in his hand
the ring to bind their love
forever faithful, ever true
the locket with the words
"forever i'll be loving you"

and she walks these sands
gazing ever out to sea
she whispers to the wind
"won't you bring him back to me?"
some say they still see her
where the water meets the shore
and they hear the wind that whispers
"nevermore, nevermore"

he promised they'd be married
on the day that he set sail
somewhere far out on the sea
his ship was lost within a gale
but mary kept her promise
as the months turned into years
by day she walked the shoreline
and each night she shed her tears

they found her late one evening
down by the waterline
where she lay beside a locket
that was cast there by the tide
wherever she may wander
in the world beyond our view
she's faithful to the words
"forever i'll be loving you"

and she walks these sands
gazing ever out to sea
she whispers to the wind
"won't you bring him back to me?"
some say they say still see her
where the water meets the shore
and they hear the wind that whispers
"nevermore, nevermore"