by Allister MacGillivray
(© Cabot Trail Music SOCAN)
Here is the tune as sung by Anne Murray.
Out on the Mira one warm afternoon,
Old men go fishing with black line and spoon
And if they catch nothing they never complain,
I wish I was with them again.
As boys in their boats call to girls on the shore,
Teasing the one that they really adore,
And into the evening the courting begins,
I wish I was with them again.
Can you imagine a piece of the universe
more fit for princes and kings?
I'll give you ten of your cities
for Marion bridge and the pleasure it brings
Out on the Mira on soft summer nights
Bonfires blaze to the children's delight
They dance round the flames singing songs with their friends;
I wish I was with them again.
And over the ashes the stories are told
Of witches and werewolves and Oak Island gold
The stars on the river they sparkle and spin;
I wish I was with them again.
Can you imagine a piece of the universe
more fit for princes and kings?
I'll give you ten of your cities
for Marion bridge and the pleasure it brings
Out on the Mira the people are kind,
They'll treat you to home-brew and help you unwind.
And if you come broken they'll see that you mend
I wish I was with them again.
And thus I conclude with a wish you go well,
Sweet be your dreams, may your happiness swell,
I'll leave you here, for my journey begins,
I'm going to be with them, going to be with them,
I'm going to be with them again.
Oh, what beautiful illustrations for the song.
John McDermott also does a great version of this song on his CD ‘A Day To Myself’.
Have to agree with above comment above John McDermott’s verison, but then again, it doesn’t matter who sings it, it’s just a nice song. Nice site, and I’ve not met a Newf I didn’t like!
My choir at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, is doing a version of this song for our 2007 Spring Concert. I really enjoy the song and now that I see what it looks like I love it even more. I also enjoy Canada, it is so peaceful and natural.
a beautiful song
I am adapting some of the words asthe lyrics describeour youth on VALENTIA ISLAND COUNTY KERRY IRELAND perfectly
VALENTIA ISLAND is joined to the mainland by VALENTIA bridge
very fiew words needed to be changed to describe life on our island
here are the changes
verse 1 line 1 out on the island on warm summer days
chorus line 3 ill trade you ten of your cities for VALENTIA bridge
verse 4 line 2 of faries and banshees the red and the gold
verse 4 line3 stars on the harbour they sparkle and spin
verse 5 line 1 out on the island the people are kind
verse 5 line 2 they’ll treat you to whiskey and help you unwind
slan leat
I love the song, and I’ve featured this site in the ‘Links’ section of our website.
My dad was born and raised in Glace Bay and New Waterford on the isle of Cape Breton. I was forturnate enough to visit as a child in my early years and then recently this past June 07. A Song For The Mira pulls at my heart strings every time I hear it and although I was never born there, this is the place I hope to rest.
the mira river is one of the beautiful place in the world
I was raised on the Mira during the summers of my younger years and all I can really remember is nothing but good times and laughter by the Bon Fires at night And Water events during ths days,Such as water skiing-Wind surfing,Tubbing & all the family always being around.Oh and I must not forget the wonderful summer neighbours who always had a good joke or story to tell and let us not forget the end of summer when we all said goodbye and wished everyone a healthy winter so that we would all meet again the following year out on the ‘MIRA’.
How I wish I was with them again!
I looked for this forever- what a wonderful job you have done with it. We have a wonderfully unique musical collection in Canada- thank you for helping us appreciate it.
Wendy
I was a part of the Garrison Brothers, a musical group who recorded “Song For The Mira” many years ago. I believe it was our version Anne Murray chose to cover and while we didn’t have the notariety or success with the song that others did, we made it accessible to them. I moved to Cape Breton in 1993 because that song spoke so loudly to me. 25 years later, I’m just a few minutes from the Mira where I continue to canoe and hike.
Did you travel in a time machine? 25 years from 1993 is 2018.
glad to see your still around Lonnie…you guys were a great band…
Carole (Gagnon) Hancock
This will be my funeral song when I die. I absolutely have been drawn to this sone for many, many years. I cry every time I hear it sung which is not often enough. Thanks to Anne Murray, you warm my heart.
I have seen much beauty along the road I travel.The past five years in bermuda. But,
The melody of this song begs my attention and the simple words (painting pictures) of a real place of real people, calls me home again and again. I visit the place I call home ( the place I am from), through the music and the words many times and I share my home with those who have never seen HER. I share my Bluenose home with my guitar and some times with just my harp. Song for the Mira, when I play it on the harmonia can bring the the stoutest caper to tears. And make the unknowing of the Mira believe it is a magical place.
Beautiful pictures of Cape Breton Island. The “pab” in my e-mail address stands for “Port-aux-Basques.” I never quite got to Marion Bridge, but I was within a couple of kilometers when I drove from Sydney to Louisbourg in 1977.
Song of the Mira is indeed a beautiful song my favourite version is by the late Derek Mc Cormack of the Barleycorn.Recently I heard a version sung in Scots Gaelic by Margo Carruthers it too was very beautiful alas i can not find where to listen or download this version,I wonder dos anyone know out there?
During a camping tour from Vancouver Island across Canada, and while in Cape Breton, we happened to hear a Rita McNeil concert radio broadcast during which Rita sang this song. I have never heard anyone sing it better. Upon our return to Victoria some four months later I was unable to find an album of Rita’s which included this song. I sugsequently phone her business manager only to find out that she never actually recorded it. I would give up many things to have that recording of Rita singing this “Song for the Mira”.
Nice article found your site searching in google I think you could have taken a more neutral view.
Anne Murray kind of blenderizes any song she sings- why not try Allister Macgillvray or Raylene Rankin’s version?
Lovely site with lovely pictures- how about Newfie songs?
carol from PEI
I’m searching for a song. The only info I have is that the chorus or refrain contain the words “the cold winds of Labrador”. Can you or any of your correspondents help please?
Let’s see if anyone knows…
just wondering if you know the song called song for the mira on banjo if you do i wold love to learn how the song goes on banjo just wondering if you can put the song with the chords on chordie website thank you
I saw the movie “Marion Bridge” several times and was touched by the movie and by the song. I looked up the song and have heard several versions, all wonderful. It reminds me of good friends at home (Alabama) and a wonderful trip with a good friend to Nova Scotia and PEI some years ago. We especially loved the beauty and tranquility of Cape Breton. I may ask my friends in Henri’s Notions, a band here in Alabama that plays music in the Celtic tradition, to learn it for me.
Hi Allister
was a big fan of The Garrison Brothers–talented group–I knew their drummer Lonnie Jones from Stanley New Brunswick–do you know what he is up to these days? he started out playing in a local band at place called the Covered Bridge legion hall in central NB
Still enjoy Tom Evans with his duo
good luck to you
Trying to find the video of Anne Muury singing Out on the Mira- the one with Jack Steele, fisherman from Mira Gut, “jigging”.Anyone know where it can be found?