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Mary Dane

by Mya Byrne

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femmebearfans I love this! i really needed to hear something beautiful with a message of humans just being good to humans. Its really helping me not feel so alone during a hard time. love you girl 🐻❤🙌🏾
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about

Mary Dane is a narrative about a woman running a soup kitchen in the 30s, inspired by Lois Jordan, a woman who fed and clothed the multitudes in early 30s San Francisco, in a junk-filled lot on Embarcadero, and also by Mya’s recent volunteer work with SF’s Homeless Youth Alliance (HYA). Drawing by @Yoko_Okay (IG), please support her work! Half of Mya's profits from this song will be donated to HYA, but you can consider donating directly here: www.homelessyouthalliance.org/donation-options/

lyrics

At a hearth of good fire, a crowd shakes off the cold
Their faces downtrodden, some young and some old
Welcomed in by Mary Dane to her family store
Greeting these ones, the houseless and poor

Mary’s pa had been a scrapper when the market caved in
So he took to the navy but was never seen again
Her mother in grief opened a general store
From the wages he sent home, the wages of war

There were rough wooden shelves full of notions and sundries
And a potbellied stove where she’d cook for the hungry
And when her ma passed Mary kept the tradition
Kept the store open, and opened the kitchen

“If you’ve but a nickel, please come inside
If you’ve none at all, your credit is fine
The coffee is hot and there’s warmth and good cheer
You’re welcome to come in, you’re welcome here”

Every day before she’d open the doors for her guests
Mary’d walk the alleyways and Check on the tents
“Hello Alvin, hello Kara, how’s your afternoon?
Be sure and come by—we’re opening soon”

She’d put up the coffee, keep it going all day
There were paper cups for those who needed warmth to take away
loaves of fresh bread, fruit in the spring
At the long barnwood table the old men would sing

“If you’ve but a nickel, please come inside
If you’ve none at all, your credit is fine
There's a plate for you, and there’s warmth and good cheer
You’re welcome to come in, you’re welcome here”

There were children with bright eyes under streaks of dirt
Mothers whose faces showed the creases of hurt
And people in clean clothing you wouldn’t know had lost their homes or more
All in the comfort of Mary Dane’s store

She was often asked, “Mary, why do you feed the poor?
You have your own bills, you don’t have much more.”
And she’d smile at them as they finished their questions
The answer was always the same, without an exception--

“What little I have can be given away
There are others in more need, there are many in pain
If bring peace for an hour, then I’ve done God’s will
All are welcome here in the cold evening chill"

“If you’ve but a nickel, please come inside
If you’ve none at all, your credit is fine
The coffee is hot and there’s warmth and good cheer
You’re welcome to come in, you’re welcome here”

credits

released February 20, 2021
Mya Byrne: Guitars, mandolin, bass, lead vocal, percussion
Carolann Solebello: Harmony vocals

Recorded at Studio 10, SF, CA
Mixed and mastered by Neale Eckstein at Fox Run Studios, Sudbury, MA

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Mya Byrne Oakland, California

Mya Byrne is a badass trans lady who will, who will, rock you.

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