Molly Malone

"Molly Malone (Cockles & Mussels)" lyrics and music traditional

Performed by Marc Gunn
From: Selcouth

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 the streets broad and narrow
Crying "cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh"

* Alive, alive, oh
Alive, alive, oh
Crying "cockles and mussels,
Alive, alive, oh"

She was a fishmonger
And sure, t'was no wonder
For so were her mother and father before
They each wheeled their barrow
Through the streets broad and narrow
Crying "cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh"

She died of a fever
And no one could save her
That was the end of sweet Molly Malone
Now her ghost wheels her barrow
Through the streets broad and narrow
Crying "cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh"

Chords: KEY D

[D]In Dublin's fair city
Where the [A7]girls are so pretty
I [D]first set my eyes on sweet Molly [A7]Malone
As she [D]wheeled her wheelbarrow
Through the [A7]streets broad and narrow
Crying [D]"cockles and mussels,
[A7]alive, alive, oh"

[D]Alive, alive, oh
[A7]Alive, alive, oh
Crying [D]"cockles and mussels,
[A7]Alive, alive, oh"

 

Background

Molly Malone is a ghost story from Dublin, Ireland. It was inspired by a women who lived at the end of the 17th century. She was fishmonger and also believed to be a prostitute who died from an STD. Her ghost is believed to still walk the streets.

The song first appeared in the late 1800s. I've heard dozens of beautiful versions of it. I also love the version by Jesse Ferguson. So I invited him to sing with me on this popular Irish song.

 

Molly Malone Videos

Marc Gunn singing "Molly Malone"

"Molly Malone" feat. Jesse Ferguson