Cockles and Mussels
This song is also called Molly Malone.
Cockles and Mussels
Folk Song
In Dublin's fair city,
Where the girls are so pretty,
I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone,
As she wheel'd her wheel barrow,
Thro' streets broad and narrow...
(Chorus)
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 wheel'd their barrow
Thro' streets broad and narrow...
(Repeat Chorus)
She died of a fever,
And no one could save her,
And that was the end of sweet Molly Malone.
But her ghost wheels her barrow
Thro' streets broad and narrow...
(Repeat Chorus)
Notes
This song was written and composed by James Yorkston (who was Scottish).
*****
Cockles and Mussels - Margaret's Version
(Also called Molly Malone)
In Dublin's fair city,
Where the girls are so pretty,
There lived a fishmonger,
Named Molly Malone,
And she wheeled her wheelbarrow,
Through the streets broad and narrow...
(Chorus)
Crying, "Cockles and Mussels alive, alive-O!
Alive, alive-O! Alive, alive-O!"
Crying, "Cockles and Mussels alive, alive-O!"
She was a fishmonger,
A fishmonger's daughter.
Her father's grandfathers
Were fishmongers too.
And they wheeled their wheelbarrows
Through the streets broad and narrow...
(Repeat Chorus)
Crying, "Cockles and Mussels alive, alive-O!
Alive, alive-O! Alive, alive-O!"
Crying, "Cockles and Mussels alive, alive-O!"
She died of the fever,
T'was nothing could save her,
And that was the end of
Sweet Molly Malone.
Now her ghost wheels her barrow
Through streets broad and narrow...
(Repeat Chorus)
Crying, "Cockles and Mussels alive, alive-O!
Alive, alive-O! Alive, alive-O!"
Crying, "Cockles and Mussels alive, alive-O!"
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Katherine Quinn for contributing this song.
Thanks also to Margaret B. for contributing the second version of this song and for sharing her lovely YouTube video rendition of Molly Malone. We've posted another YouTube video by Margaret called Spider's Web. You can click the link for the lyrics and video. You can see other YouTube videos by Margaret on her YouTube Home Page.
Illustrations compiled by Mama Lisa. Photo of the Molly Malone statue is by Monique Palomares.
Thanks so much!
