If you know of Ireland and Dublin
sure, you've heard of Sweet Molly Malone;
she'd push her barrow
along streets narrow,
selling her shellfish she was well known.

Many myths have been written 'bout Molly,
and the song sung with many a twist,
but I'll never believe
and I couldn't conceive,
that Miss Molly just didn't exist.

I've read unkind words about Molly:
she sold more than just her seafood.
Now, that's not my Molly
oh, goodness and golly,
to think so would be ever so rude!

She learned the trade from her parents;
fishmongers they were, did you know?
Sold live cockles,
sold live mussels,
while crying "alive, alive oh"!

Sweet Molly, a fair lookin' lass she,
died young from the fever, 'tis so,
but listen up dear
you'll hear ever so clear
refrains of “…alive, alive, oh!"

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


*Cockles and Mussels, or Molly Malone, Comic Song by James Yorkston (original-version author unknown)

© Original Copyright Jackie (Micke) Jinks, July 2003