Molly Bonder- Aunt Jenny Wilson (WV) 1972 Coon REC
[From: Field Recorders' Collective FRC 408 recorded by Fred Coon, 1972.
R. Matteson 2016]
Molly Bonder- Sung by Aunt Jenny Wilson of Logan West Virginia in 1972. Wilson: "The name of this is Molly Bonder, and I learned this from my oldest sister."
1 Come all you young fellows who handle a gun,
Beware of your shooting at the down-going sun.
I will tell you a story that happened of late;
Concerning Molly Bonder, her beauty was great.
2. Molly Bonder was out a-walking, when a shower came on;
She ran under a beech tree, the shower to shun.
Jimmy Randolph he was a hunting, was a hunting in the dark.
He shot his true lover and he missed not the mark.
3. With her apron pinned around her, he thought she was a swan,
He shot and he killed her, her name was Molly Bon[1].
He ran to his uncle, with his gun in his hand
Saying, “Uncle, oh dearest uncle, I have killed Molly Bon."
4. He ran up unto her, and he found she was dead[2],
A thousand of tears on her bosom he shed
"Oh Molly, dearest Molly you are the joys of my life,
I've always intended to make you my wife."
Up stepped his old father, and his hair turning gray
Saying, “Stay home Jimmy, and don't run away."
Saying, “Stay home Jimmy, your trial must stand;
Perhaps you'll come clear by, the laws of the land.”
All the girls of Colorado, seemed to be mighty glad
To hear of those tidings, Molly Bonder was dead.
On the day of Jimmy's trial Molly's ghost did appear,
Saying, "Judges and jury Jimmy Randolph comes clear,
With my apron pinned around me, he thought I was a swan,
He shot and he killed me, my name is Molly Bon."
1. The name, as in many versions, is shortened here and later too.
2. This stanza was stanza 5, I've switched 4 and 5 so they are in the right order.