Nora on mountain dulcimer, arrangement by Linda Brockinton. Played in 1-5-8 (CGc). Used with permission. The original Irish air, Maggie, is by James A. Butterfield (1837-1891). Sean O’Casey changed the name to Nora for his 1926 play, The Plough and the Stars, because the character Jack sings to his wife Nora (not Maggie).

With the lovely lyrics, am celebrating all long-time loving couples. Am particularly thinking of Louie and Millie, who passed away within 14 months of each other and after 75 years of marriage at the age of 99 and 97. They met on a blind date, and it was that night that Louie said, “I am going to marry you someday.” Their love grew from beginning to end, the secret to a great life.

Lyrics:

I wandered today to the hill, Maggie
To watch the scene below
The creek and the rusty old mill, Maggie
Where we sat in the long, long ago.
The green grove is gone from the hill, Maggie
Where first the daisies sprung
The old rusty mill is still, Maggie
Since you and I were young.

A city so silent and lone, Maggie
Where the young and the gay and the best
In polished white mansion of stone, Maggie
Have each found a place of rest
Is built where the birds used to play, Maggie
And join in the songs that were sung
For we sang just as gay as they, Maggie
When you and I were young.

They say I am feeble with age, Maggie
My steps are less sprightly than then
My face is a well written page, Maggie
But time alone was the pen.
They say we are aged and grey, Maggie
As spray by the white breakers flung
But to me you're as fair as you were, Maggie
When you and I were young.

And now we are aged and grey, Maggie
The trials of life nearly done
Let us sing of the days that are gone, Maggie
When you and I were young.