Thank You for Hearing Me: The Definitive Sinéad O'Connor Discography

“Molly Malone”

Traditional, arranged by Sinéad O'Connor/Dónal Lunny/Cora Venus Lunny/A. Maxwell/B. Alexander

(Source: Sean-Nós Nua)

4 versions

3:33

Sean-Nós Nua album

3:57/4:42

live at Vicar Street, Dublin

She Who Dwells in the Secret Place of the Most High Shall Abide Under the Shadow of the Almighty album

3:33

music video

13:45

documentary

Lyrics

(Source: Sean-Nós Nua)

In Dublin's fair city,
Where the girls are so pretty,
I first laid my eyes on
Sweet Molly Malone,
As she wheeled her wheelbarrow
Thru' 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 was her Father father
And Mother mother before.
And they all wheeled their barrows
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 died of a fever,
And no one could save her,
And that was the end of sweet Molly Malone.
Now her ghosts wheels her barrow
Thru' the streets broad and narrow,
Crying, "Cockles and mussels,
Alive, alive, oh!"

Notes

Liner notes

This I learned from my father, who loves Dublin and its history. It is a popular song about the old Dublin street traders, about a Dublin which has been lost in the mists of time. My Dad would sing it in the car when we were children. In my opinion most other people didn't seem to feel the real emotions of the song like he did. They'd blast it out until it blocked out the ghosts that were speaking. My father gave tender gentility to the song so that one could feel the ghosts.

(Source: Sean-Nós Nua)

Musicians

(Source: Sean-Nós Nua)

Sinéad O'Connor vocals
Abdullah Chhadeh quanun
Nick Coplowe Hammond
Pete Lockett percussion
Cora Venus Lunny violin
Dónal Lunny acoustic guitar , bouzouki , keyboard , bodhrán , bodhrán bass
Skip McDonald electric guitar
Rob Ó Géibheannaigh flute , strings
Carlton "Bubblers" Ogilvie drums , bass , piano
Bernard O'Neill acoustic bass
Professor Stretch drum programming , bass programming
Sharon Shannon accordion
Steve Wickham fiddle , mandolin , banjo

All artwork, lyrics, and liner notes are copyrighted by their respective owners. Every effort is made to properly attribute copyrighted content, when known. Everything else © copyright Jason R Tibbetts 2007-2023. All rights reserved.

Questions, comments, or corrections? Email me at jason@tibbetts.net.