Molly Vaughan- LaRena LeBarr Clark (ON) c1935 BK
[From A Family Heritage: The Story and Songs of LaRena Clark, p. 61 by Edith Fowke, Jay Rahn, LaRena LeBarr Clark- 1994; recorded in 1961. Some of Fowke's notes follow.
This ballad likely came from LaRena Clark’s (1929-1993) grandmother Mary Anne Moore LeBarr, of Irish descent.
R. Mattteson 2016]
Another suggestion is that the alternate title "The Shooting of His Dear" may originally have referred to a deer, and Vaughan to a fawn, relating it to ancient tales of a maiden who was a woman by day and a deer by night. Perhaps the white white apron in the modern versions was introduced to rationalize the magic of earlier times. There is some evidence that it stems from an actual tragedy in Ireland.
Molly Vaughan- as sung by LaRena Clark (1929-1993) of Ontario
1. I'll tell you of an accident that happened of late.
It's Molly and Jenny[1], with riches they were great.
As they walked out one evening, a shower it came on,
And they stepped under a green bush, the shower for to shun.
2. Willie, her true love, had been fowling all that day,
When night it came on and he passed by that way,
With her apron being around her, he took her for a swan,
And he fired in the green bush and shot Molly Vaughan.
3. Up stepped this young man and found it was she;
With his arms all around her, around her he did lay,
And he kissed her sweet lips; they were colder than clay.
4. Up stepped an old man whose locks they were grey,
Crying, "Son, stand your country and don't run away,
For you ne'er shall be hung by the laws of this land."
5. Come all you young fellows who carry a gun,
Beware of your shooting at the setting of the sun,
For the maids in this land they'll all flock in a row,
And appear in the meadow like a ball of white snow.
1. The corruption here is of her name Polly Vaughan (Jenny)