Once I Loved Thee, Mary Dear

William Cullen Crookshank wrote this poem in 1851. Stephen Foster had a fondness for poetry that expressed a gentle sadness and chose to put this poem to music. It was never a well-known song and Foster only earned $8.00 in royalties from this song. Background music is in the key of D

Messenger Bag with harmonica logo

  6 5-5  6     7   -7 -5  -6   
Once I loved thee, Ma-ry dear, 

6 6 -5  5  -4
O ho-w tru-ly!

6  5 -5  6    7    -7   -5    -6   
As th-e dew-drop bright and clear, 

 6 -5 5-5 -6  6
Bo-rn but new-ly

 -7   -7   -6 -7   7  5   6
Spar-kling in the so-lar rays, 

-5  6   -6   6      5  4   -4
To the rose-bud's beau-ty pays

  4   4   7 -6   -5  -4  -8 7-7-6
Trib-ute du-ly, Trib-ute  d-u-l-y,

 6  5-5  6     7  -7 -5  -6
Once I loved thee Ma-ry dear,

6 6-5  5  -4
O how tru-ly

 6  5-5  6     7  -7 7-8  -6
Once I loved thee, Ma-ry dear,

6 -6-7  -8 7 
O  how tru-ly!

verse 2
I loved thee, when in ear-ly youth, lovely ever
Virtuous pride and honest truth, Neer could sever,
And thy heart was pure and bright as the early morning's light,
Sinning never, sinning never.
Once I lovedthee, Mary dear, O how truly!
Once I loved thee, Mary dear, O how truly!

verse 3
O that dream hath passed away, passed full sadly!
Like a genial summer day, glowing gladly;
And the tale of life is told, passions blighted, withered, cold
Madly, madly, madly, madly.
Once I loved thee, Mary dear, O how truly!
Once I loved thee, Mary dear, O how truly!

verse 4
Once I loved thee, Mary dear, still, God bless thee!
May ever blissful prospects cheer and joy caress thee;
Though I drain my cups apart,
May, like mine, a saddened heart
Ne'erdistress thee
Once I loved thee, Mary dear, O how truly!
Once I loved thee, Mary dear, O how truly!