Thank You for Hearing Me: “Molly Malone”

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

4 versions

Lyrics

	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

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.

“Molly Malone”