Molly Girl- Mrs. Newton (MO) 1958 Max Hunter F
[From: Max Hunter Folk Song Collection; Cat. #0109 (MFH #420) , my designation F. This is the most interesting Hunter version unusual stanzas with elements of the broadside. The stanzas are out of order.
Also Ozark Collection Reel 250, Item 1.
R. Matteson 2016]
Molly Girl- As sung by Mrs. Ed Newton, Gainesville, Missouri on June 10, 1958
VERSE 1
O Molly, O Molly,
O Molly, said he.
Go fix up your mind
And be married to thee
O Willie, O Willie
O Willie, said she
I am now too young
To be married thee
VERSE 2
She went to his window
The dawn of the day
I've now got consent
To be married to thee
Her took her by the hand
And led her o'er the valley so deep
He led this fair damsel
Till she begin to weep
VERSE 3
O Willie, O Willie,
O Willie, said she
I am now afraid
You are going to lead me astray
O Molly, O Molly,
O Molly, said he
You are guessing just right
For I was digging of your grave
The biggest part of last night
VERSE 4
He took her by the hand
And led 'er o'er the valley so deep
He led this fair damsel
Till she begin to weep
VERSE 5
He led her little further
Before she did spy
Her grave it was dug
And the spade standing by
She threw her arms around him
And spoke without fear
How can you kill a girl
That has loved you so dear?
VERSE 6
O Molly, O Molly,
O Molly, said he,
I know you're the prettiest girl
That ever was born
I once enjoyed your beauty
But now you are gone
VERSE 7
He opened her bosom
Which is twicet as white as snow
And thru her heart he stuck a pen knife
Which caused much blood to flow
He laid her in her grave
And walk-ed off towards home
Leaving nothing but the small birds
To hear poor Molly's groans
VERSE 8
That ship it was waiting
Along the seaside
He swore by his maker
He would sail the other side
He raised the sail
And away he did fly
Still thinking of poor Molly
How hard she did die
VERSE 9
The sea it did roar
And the ship it did whirl
He still thinking how hard
He had murdered the poor Molly girl
He raised his sail
And away he did fly
Still thinking of poor Molly
How hard she did die
VERSE 10
He sailed and sailed
To his own hearts content
At last there sprung a leak in the ship
To the bottoms she went
VERSE 11
Come all you young courters
And take warning by me
I warn you of young lovers
Who killed the Molly girl
-----------------------------
[Ozark Collection Reel 250, Item 1. Collected by Max Hunter (H-6 ) For Mary C. Parler Transcribed by Frances Majors
Molly Girl- Sung by Mrs. Ed Newton Gainesville, Missouri June 10, 1958
Oh, Molly, oh, Molly,
Oh, Molly, said he,
Go fix up your mind
And be married to thee.
Oh, Willie, oh, Willie,
Oh, Willie, said she,
I am now too young
To be married to thee.
She went to his window
The dawn of the day:
I've now got consent
To be married to thee.
He took her by the hand
And led her o'er the valley so deep,
He led this fair damsel
Till she began to weep.
Oh, Willie, oh, Willie,
Oh, Willie, said she,
I am now afraid
You are going to lead me astray.
Oh, Molly, oh, Molly,
Oh, Molly, said he,
You are guessing just right,
For I was digging of your grave
The biggest part of last night.
He took her by the hand
And led her o'er the valley so deep.
He led this fair damsel
Till she began to weep.
He led her little further
Before she did spy,
Her grave it was dug
And the spade standing by.
She threw her arms around him
And spoke with a fear,
How can you kill a girl
That has loved you so dear.
Oh, Molly, oh, Molly,
Oh, Molly, said he,
I know you're the prettiest girl
That ever was born;
I once enjoyed your beauty,
But now you are gone.
He opened her bosom,
Which is twice as white as snow,
And through her heart he stuck a pen knife,
Which caused much blood to flow.
He laid her in her grave,
And walked off toward home,
Leaving nothing but the small birds
To hear poor Molly's groans.
The ship it was waiting
Along the seaside;
He swore by his Maker
He would sail the other side.
He raised the sail
And away he did fly,
Still thinking of poor Molly
How hard she did die.
The sea it did roar
And the ship it did whirl,
He still a-thinking how hard
He had murdered the poor Molly girl.
He raised his sail
And away he did fly,
Still thinking of poor Molly
How hard she did die.
He sailed and he sailed
To his own heart's content;
At last there sprung a leak in the ship,
To the bottom she went.
Come all you young courters,
And take warning by me;
I warn you of young lovers
Who killed the Molly girl.