My Donald
Mary Black Lyrics


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Oh my Donald he works on the sea
On the waves that blow wild and free
He splices the ropes and he sets the sails
While southward he rolls to the home of the whale
And he ne'er thinks o' me far behind
Nor the torments that rage in my mind
He's mine for only part of the year
And I'm left all alone with only my tears

Ye ladies that smell of wild rose
Think ye for your perfume to where a man goes
Think ye o' the wives and the babies that yearn
For a man ne'er returning from hunting the sperm

My Donald he works on the sea
On the waves that blow wild and free




He splices the ropes and sets the sails
While southward he rolls to the home of the whale

Overall Meaning

In Mary Black's song "My Donald," the lyrics describe a woman's longing for her lover who works on the sea as a sailor. Donald is a man who sets sail on the wild and free waves to hunt for whales, leaving his lover behind to deal with her own feelings of loneliness and abandonment. The singer openly admits that Donald never thinks of her while he's away, and she's left to cope with her own "torments" and tears.


The lyrics also address the wives and families of sailors. The singer asks other women who may wear perfume and feel attractive to think about the wives and children left behind to wait for their husbands who are out hunting for whales. The song is an acknowledgement of the hardships and isolation that come with being a sailor or being involved with someone who works on the sea.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh my Donald he works on the sea
My beloved Donald works on the vast, unpredictable sea


On the waves that blow wild and free
He navigates through rough and untamed waters


He splices the ropes and he sets the sails
Donald works hard to make sure the ship is functioning properly


While southward he rolls to the home of the whale
He sails southward towards the whale's breeding areas


And he ne'er thinks o' me far behind
Donald doesn't think of me, the one he loves, who's far away from him


Nor the torments that rage in my mind
He's unaware of the agony that my mind goes through from being apart


He's mine for only part of the year
Donald is only mine for a certain time period in a year


And I'm left all alone with only my tears
After he leaves, I'm all alone and the only thing I have is my tears


Ye ladies that smell of wild rose
All you women who smell of wild rose


Think ye for your perfume to where a man goes
Have you ever considered how your perfume may affect a man's journey?


Think ye o' the wives and the babies that yearn
Think of the wives and children who miss and long for their husbands and fathers


For a man ne'er returning from hunting the sperm
They worry about the possibility of their loved ones not returning from their dangerous hunts for whales




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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Maureen Smith


on Bruach na Carraige Baine

So beautiful!

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