Molly Malone lyrics
The DublinersIn Dublin's fair city,
Where the girls are so pretty,
I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone,
As she wheeled her wheel-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!
She was a fishmonger,
But sure 'twas no wonder,
For so were her father and mother before,
And they each wheeled their 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!
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!
Song Details
Music & Lyrics: Traditional
Brief: Molly Malone is a popular folk song which was first published in London in 1884. When it was published, it was said to be written and composed by James Yorkston from Edinburgh. The music to the song was arranged by Edmund Forman. It was also published in Cambridge, Massachusetts around the same time. It still remains a little unclear as to who actually wrote the song... and when?
The song is set in Dublin, Ireland, and tells the story of a beautiful girl who was a fishmonger by the name of Molly Malone. She sells her wares on the streets of Dublin, and dies of a fever at a young age... read more. The song is also known as 'Cockles and Mussels', or 'In Dublin's Fair City'.
In Dublin, Molly Malone is so popular that it has become its unofficial anthem, celebrating the 13th June as Molly Malone Day. The statue of Molly was erected for Dublin's first millenium in 1988, and lies in Grafton St, Dublin.
Category: Irish Folk
Covers: Sinead O'Connor, Maureen Carroll, Johnny Logan, Paul Harrington, Frank Harte... the most popular version of the song was recorded by The Dubliners, and who better to sing a song about Dublin, than The Dubliners!
Album: St. Patrick's Day Celebration... (March 11, 2011)
Back To Top Back to THE DUBLINERS
