By Dr. Jeff Mathis
It’s a song that Rebecca introduced to me when we were dating, and I came to be enchanted by it (her) as soon as she sang it.
Known as either “A Song for the Mira” or “Out on the Mira,” Allister MacGillivray’s folk song has been covered by many Celtic artists and high school chorales. Rebecca sang it as a lullaby to our children as its soothing character will temper the worst of tantrums.
The song lyrics paint several lush scenes from a beloved community on the banks of the River Mira. The music feels familiar and is instantly hummable. You can listen to it HERE while you reflect on the images MacGillivray describes.
“Song for the Mira”
By Allister MacGillivray
Out on the Mira on warm afternoons,
Old men go fishin’ with black line and spoons.
And, if they catch nothin’, they never complain;
I wish I was with them again—
As boys in their boats call to girls on the shore,
Teasin’ the ones that they dearly adore.
And, into the ev’ning, the courting begins;
I wish I was with them again.
Chorus:
Can you imagine a piece of the universe
More fit for princes and kings?
I’ll trade you ten of your cities for Marion Bridge
And the pleasure it brings.
Out on the Mira on soft summer nights,
Bon fires blaze to the children’s delight.
They dance ’round the flames, singin’ 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.
Stars on the river-face sparkle and spin;
I wish I was with them again.
(Chorus)
Out on the Mira the people are kind;
They treat you to homebrew and help you unwind.
And, if you come broken, they’ll see that you mend;
I wish I was with them again.
Now I’ll conclude with a wish you go well:
Sweet be your dreams—and your happiness swell.
I’ll leave you here, for my journey begins;
I’m going to be with them again,
I’m going to be with them again.
Like many listeners, I’m particularly moved by the character of Marion Bridge. And perhaps that’s why we’re so drawn to it—the townspeople and their lovely interactions are what we yearn for in a community but may never feel is entirely realized.
Who among us isn’t charmed by the images of children playing and laughing together? Marion Bridge is a place where people share their lives and are all the better for it. Seriously, can you think of a better description of what church life can look like than this?
Out on the Mira the people are kind;
They treat you to homebrew and help you unwind.
And, if you come broken, they’ll see that you mend;
I wish I was with them again.
It’s hard for me not to hear the Apostle Paul’s voice in the song when he describes his love for the church in Philippi and Colossae with such affection.
We are blessed with just such a community where children’s laughter is welcome and where old men return happy from not catching any fish. Church gatherings on the mountain, or in our Mission and Fellowship Center, or on our front steps after worship all remind us of the sweetness of God’s gift to us in one another. Our small groups are places where hospitality is practiced and where it’s okay to share our hard stories. We are a gift to one another, First Baptist Church, and our fellowship is worthy of our thanksgiving and a reminder to renew and deepen our commitment to one to the other.
We don’t have to wish we were with these friends again. No, our Marion Bridge is named Sylva, and we’re already home.
