Molly Bond- Charlie Hatcher (TN) 1954 Boswell
[From Folk Songs of Middle Tennessee, by Boswell, ed. Wolfe, 1997.
R. Matteson 2016]
Molly Bond- sung by Charlie Hatcher, Humphreys County, March 7, 1954.
Prologue:
Come all ye bold hunters that handles a gun,
Beware of your shooting after the down sun.
1. Molly Bond[1] dear was a-walking when a shower came up,
She stopped under a beech tree the shower to shun,
Jimmy Randle was hunting, oh, a-hunting in the dark,
He shot at his true love and missed not his mark.
2. Jimmy Randel ran to her, picked her up in his arms,
And into her bosom ten thousand tears shed,
Saying, "Molly, dear Molly, I've taken your life,
Which I've always intended to make you my wife."
3. Jimmy Randel ran home with his gun in his hand,
His limbs all a-shaking till he hardly could stand,
Saying, "Uncle, dear uncle, I've shot Molly Bond,
I've shot the fairest creature that ever the sun shone on."
4. "She's the queen of our country and a flower among girls all,
And I've always intended to make her my own."
[text missing]
5. In stepped Jimmy's old father, his locks turning gray,
Saying, "Jimmy, son Jimmy, don't you run away,
Stay at home with your father till your trial comes on,
You need never suffer for the want of a friend."
6. The day of Jimmy's trial, Molly's ghost did appear,
Saying, "uncle, dear uncle, Jimmy Randel goes clear,
With my apron pinned around me, Jimmy shot me for a swan,
But alas, it was alas, it was I, Molly Bond."
1. probably "Molly Bonder" (Molly Bond dear)