Molly Baun- Mrs. McClellan (MI) 1935 Gardner A
[From Ballads and Songs of Southern Michigan by Gardner and Chickering; 1939. Their notes follow.
R. Matteson 2016]
14 MOLLY BAUN
For discussion and references see Cox, pp 339-341. See also Eddy, No 192 Hudson, pp. 35-37; Kittredge, JAFL, XXX, 358-360; Randolph, pp. 174-175, Scarborough, pp. 116-117; and Sharp, I, 328-332.
Version A was sung in 1935 by Mrs. Allan McClellan, near Bad Axe, who learned the song in childhood, from her sister.
A. "Molly Baun"
1 In the county of Derry where I was bred and born,
And ev'ryone called me a roving young man.
2 I courted young Molly till I gained her mind;
The whole world would blame me should I leave her behind.
3 Lovely Molly went walking, there came a shower of hail;
She went under a green bower, herself to conceal.
4 Her true love being a-fowling, he shot in the dark,
But oh and alas, he did not miss his mark.
5 Johnny Randal goes to her and found she was dead;
A well full of tears on her bosom he shed.
6 Saying, "Molly, dearest Molly, my joy and my pride,
It was my whole intention to make you my bride."
7 Johnny Randal goes home with his gun in his hand,
Saying, "Uncle, dearest uncle, I have shot Molly Baun."
8 "Her white apron being around her, I took her for a swan;
But I never intended to shoot Molly Baun."
9 His father steps to him, his head it was gray,
Saying, "Johnny Randal, do not run away."
10 "But oh, stay at home till your trial comes on,
You'll ne'er be condemned though I lose all my land."
11 Then Johnny was taken and led to the jail,
Bound with strong irons, his grief to bewail.
12 The night before his trial her ghost did appear,
Saying, "Uncle, dearest uncle, Johnny Randal goes clear."
13 "My white apron being around me, he took me for a swan;
But he never intended to shoot Molly Baun.
14 "My white apron being around me, he took me for a swan;
But oh and alas, it was I, Molly Baun."
15 The girls of this country are all very glad
Since the flower of them all, Molly Baun, she is dead.
16 Take them all in a number, place them all in a row;
Molly Baun would appear among them like a mountain of snow.
17 Come all you true lovers that carries a gun,
Beware of late hunting out after set sun;
18 For fear it will happen as it happened to me,
To kill your own true love in under a tree.