He was exposed to traditional music through his mother Ruth Crawford-Seeger and father Charles Seeger, who worked with musicologists John and Alan Lomax.
He was an accomplished musician; a distinctive singer who played autoharp, banjo, fiddle, dulcimer, guitar, mouth harp, mandolin, and dobro.
His influence on the folk scene is described at some length by Bob Dylan in his book, Chronicles.
A week before his 76th birthday, Seeger died at his home in Lexington, Virginia on August 7, 2009, after stopping cancer treatment.
Little Maggie
Mike Seeger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Over yonder she stands,
Rifle on her shoulder,
Six-shooter in her hand.
2. How can I ever stand it,
Just to see them two blue eyes,
Shinin' like some diamonds,
3. Rather be in some lonely hollow
Where the sun don't ever shine,
Than to see you be another man's darling,
And to know that you'll never be mine.
4. Well, it's march me away to the station
With my suitcase in my hand,
Yes, march me away to the station,
I'm off to some far-distant land.
5. Sometimes I have a nickel,
And sometimes I have a dime,
Sometimes I have ten dollars,
Just to pay for little Maggie's wine.
6. Pretty flowers are made for blooming,
Pretty stars are made to shine,
Pretty girls are made for boy's love,
Little Maggie was made for mine.
7. Well, yonder stands little Maggie
With a dram glass in her hand,
She's a drinkin' down her troubles
Over courtin' some other man.
Lay down your last gold dollar
Lay down your gold watch and chain
Little Maggie's gonna dance for daddy
Listen to that ol' banjo ring
"Little Maggie" is a traditional American folk song that has been passed down through generations. The song tells the story of a man who is deeply in love with a woman named Maggie. He describes her as standing over yonder with a rifle on her shoulder and a six-shooter in her hand. Despite his love for her, he cannot bear to see her with another man, and would rather be alone than know that she is someone else's darling.
The man decides to leave and march away to a far-distant land, carrying only a suitcase in his hand. He often only has a nickel or a dime to his name, but he will spend whatever he needs to on Little Maggie's wine. The song claims that pretty girls are made for boy's love, and that Little Maggie was made for the man who sings the song.
The final verse shows Little Maggie drinking her troubles away over courting some other man. The song ends with an invitation to lay down your last gold dollar, gold watch, and chain, as Little Maggie is going to dance for her daddy while the banjo rings in the background.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, where is little Maggie
Asking for the whereabouts of a person called Maggie.
Over yonder she stands,
Maggie is standing over there.
Rifle on her shoulder,
She's carrying a rifle on her shoulder.
Six-shooter in her hand.
She's carrying a six-shooter in her hand.
How can I ever stand it,
Expressing frustration.
Just to see them two blue eyes,
Referring to Maggie's blue eyes which are difficult to resist.
Shinin' like some diamonds,
Maggie's blue eyes are sparkling like diamonds.
Like some diamonds in the sky.
Further emphasizing the beauty of Maggie's blue eyes.
Rather be in some lonely hollow
Preferring to be in an isolated place.
Where the sun don't ever shine,
A place where there's no hope or happiness.
Than to see you be another man's darling,
Preferring loneliness than to witness Maggie being with another man.
And to know that you'll never be mine.
Feeling a sense of despair knowing that he can never be with Maggie.
Well, it's march me away to the station
Referring to leaving and going far away.
With my suitcase in my hand,
Preparing to leave with a suitcase.
Yes, march me away to the station,
Emphasizing again the intention to leave.
I'm off to some far-distant land.
Referring to going away to a far place.
Sometimes I have a nickel,
Referring to having a small amount of money.
And sometimes I have a dime,
Referring to having a bit more money than a nickel.
Sometimes I have ten dollars,
Referring to having a considerable amount of money.
Just to pay for little Maggie's wine.
Referring to spending money on Maggie's drinks (probably alcohol).
Pretty flowers are made for blooming,
Stating the purpose of flowers.
Pretty stars are made to shine,
Stating the purpose of stars.
Pretty girls are made for boy's love,
Stating the purpose of girls in general.
Little Maggie was made for mine.
Stating that Maggie was made for him alone.
Well, yonder stands little Maggie
Referring to Maggie who is standing nearby.
With a dram glass in her hand,
Maggie is holding a glass of alcohol.
She's a drinkin' down her troubles
Drinking to forget her problems.
Over courtin' some other man.
Maggie is drinking because she's trying to forget another man whom she is trying to woo.
Lay down your last gold dollar
Asking someone to give their last amount of money.
Lay down your gold watch and chain
Asking someone to give their most prized possessions.
Little Maggie's gonna dance for daddy
Maggie is going to dance for someone (probably a wealthy man).
Listen to that ol' banjo ring
Referring to the sound of the banjo as Maggie dances.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVE GUARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind