Annotation:Carry the News to Mary

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 CARRY THE NEWS TO MARY. AKA - "Carry the News! We Are All Surrounded." American, Cakewalk or "Walk Around." A Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABBC, Break. A Walk Around was a part of a minstrel show, usually coming at the end of the first half, prior to intermission, although there were sometimes 'walk arounds' at the end of the performance as well. The performers would walk in a circle around the stage, improvising various dance steps and patting. The song was written by Charley Howard (words) and Walter Bray (music) for Simmons and Slocum's Minstrels, and was published in 1870. Bray died in 1891. ''Oh! Martha wept and Mary cried:'' We're all surrounded: The good old man has gone and died, We're all surrounded. Shake off your slumbers and arise, We're all surrounded The sun is shining in the skies, We're all surrounded. Source for notated version: Printed sources: Cole (1000 Fiddle Tunes), 1940; p. 26. Ryan's Mammoth Collection, 1883; p. Recorded sources:

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