MOLLY MALONE
(Aka COCKLES AND MUSSELS and IN DUBLIN'S FAIR CITY)
traditional


Thought to originate in the 1830s, it is the 
unofficial anthem of Dublin City Ireland.
The actual name Molly Malone (referred to in song/verse) 
appears earlier in time (1700s).
This fable's origins are hotly contested between the 
Irish and the Scottish (Scots) to this day 
and has become an urban legend.

(some credit James Yorkston & Edmund Forman as the first to be 
credited with their 1884 published version, 
but the song was known earlier.)


Gray Gordon & His Orch. (vocal: Art Perry) - 1940
Maxine Sullivan - 1940 & 1955
Josh White - 1946
Mary Mayo - 1950
Burl Ives - 1958
Tammy Grimes - 1959
Arthur Murphy - 1959
Frank Parker - 1959
Jane Morgan - 1960
Bill Shepherd Singers - 1960
The Punchinellos - 1960
The Limeliters - 1961
Pete Seeger - 1962
Karen James - 1962
The Hi-Lo's (with Billy May & His Orch.) - 1962
Kai Winding (Instr.) - 1962
Cisco Houston - 1964
John Gary - 1965
Mike Douglas - 1965
The Bachelors - 1966
Robert White - 1977
Village Green - 1978
Heino (German lyric adapted by A. von Kleebsattel) - 1980
Seán Brady & Chorus - 1983
Brush Shiels - 1999
Sinéad O'Connor - 2002

Also recorded by:
Deanna Durbin; The Dubliners; Frank Harte; Sean Wilson; 
Danny Kaye; Kate Smith; The Saturdays;
The Dolomites; Hoagy Carmichael; Santiano; Jamie Block;
Mechau Family; Phil Coulter; Fiffin Market; Susan Reed;
Herman Chittison Trio; Seona McDowell; Michael Hurley;
Shanty-Chor Cuxhaven; Hudson Orch. & Singers; Rapalje;
Renaud; Sarah Moore; Richard Dyer-Bennett; Joe Lynch;
Storktown Dixie Kids; David Summerford; Johnny Logan;
Ian McCulloch & Paul Harrington; Janu; Dave Pell; U2;
Morton Downey; Ronnie Drew ......... and many others.



In Dublin's fair city, where the girls are so pretty
I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone
As she wheeled her wheelbarrow
Through streets broad and narrow
Crying cockles and mussels alive-alive-o!

Alive-alive-o! Alive-alive-o!
Crying cockles and mussels alive-alive-o!

She was a fishmonger and sure 'twas no wonder
For so were her father and mother before
And they each wheeled their barrows through streets broad and narrow
Crying cockles and mussels alive-alive-o!

Alive-alive-o! Alive-alive-o!
Crying cockles and mussels alive-alive-o!

She died of a fever and no one could save her
And that was the end of sweet Molly Malone
Now her ghost wheels her barrow through streets broad and narrow
Crying cockles and mussels alive-alive-o!

Alive-alive-o! Alive-alive-o!
Crying cockles and mussels alive-alive-o!


****************
SWEET MOLLY MALONE

as recorded by
Deanna Durbin (1930s)



In Dublin's fair city
Where girls are so pretty
'Twas there that I met
My sweet Molly Malone.

She wheel'd her wheel barrow
Through streets broad and narrow
Cryin' cockles and mussels
Alive, alive oh.

Alive, alive oh
Alive, alive oh
Cryin' cockles and mussels
Alive, alive oh.

(short bridge)

She was a fishmonger
And sure 'twas no wonder
For so were her father
And mother also.

They each wheel'd their barrow
Through streets broad and narrow
Cryin' cockles and mussels
Alive, alive oh.

She died of the fever
And nothin' could save her
And that was the end
Of sweet Molly Malone.

Now her ghost wheels her barrow
Through streets broad and narrow
Cryin' cockles and mussels
Alive, alive oh.

Alive, alive oh
Alive, alive oh
Cryin' cockles and mussels
Alive, alive oh.



(Transcribed by David Story - August 2013)


****************
MOLLY MALONE
As recorded by MAXINE SULLIVAN:

Cockles and mussels alive-alive-o!

In Dublin's fair city, where girls are so pretty
That's where he first met her, sweet Molly Malone
She wheeled her wheelbarrow through streets wide and narrow
Crying cockles and mussels alive-alive-o!

She was a fishmonger and sure it's no wonder
For her father and mother were fishmongers too
They wheeled a wheelbarrow through streets wide and narrow
Crying cockles and mussels alive-alive-o!

He asked her to marry, she said, "'Twould be grand"
But to leave her dear Dublin, she'd not give her hand
So they both wheel a barrow through streets wide and narrow
Crying cockles and mussels alive-alive-o!

This is a story very old
Of a girl who was his all alone
She was the one he would not forget
And her name was sweet Molly, sweet Molly Malone

He asked her to marry, she said, "'Twould be grand"
But to leave her dear Dublin, she'd not give her hand
So they both wheel a barrow through streets wide and narrow
Crying cockles and mussels alive-alive-o!