Molly Varn- Mrs. F. Fitzgerald (VA) 1918 Sharp D
[My title. From: English Folk Songs From The Southern Appalachians, I (1932) by Olive Dame Campbell, Cecil James Sharp, ed. Maud Karpeles. The 1932 notes follow.
R. Matteson 2016]
1932 Notes: No. 50. Shooting of his Dear.
Texts without tunes :—Journal of American Folk-Lore, xxii. 387 ; xxxix. 136.
Texts with tunes: Journal of the Folk-Song Society, ii. 59; vii. 17. Journal of the Irish Folk-Song Society, iii. 25. Songs of the West, 2nd ed., No. 62. Folk Songs
from Somerset, No. 16. ' Molly Ban (pronounced Van) so fair/ Petrie's Collection of Irish Music, Nos. 724 and 1171 (tunes only). Joyce's Ancient Irish Music, p. 20. Journal of American Folk-Lore, xxx. 358, Cox's Folk Songs of the South, pp. 339 (see also further references) and 529.
D. [Molly Varn]- Sung by Mrs. FLORENCE FITZGERALD at Royal Orchard, Afton, Va., April 27, 1918.
Hexatonic (no 6th)
1. Jimmy Randal went hunting
All a bout in the dark.
He shot Molly Varn,
And he not missed his mark.
2 He ran out up to her,
When he found she were dead,
And over her bosom
A many tear he shed.
3 He picked up his gun,
To his uncle's house did run.
Says: Uncle, dear uncle,
I've shot Molly Varn.
4 I've shot that fair damsel,
The joy of my life.
I always intended
For to make her my wife.
5 Up stepped Jimmy's father
Whose locks were turning grey,
Says : Jimmy, dear Jimmy,
Do not run away.
6 Stay with your old country
Till your trial comes on.
You will never be punished
For shooting Molly Varn.
7 The day of Jimmy's trial
Molly's ghost did appear,
Says : Gentlemen of the jury,
Jimmy Randal go clear.
8 All of the city girls
Were placed in a row.
Molly Varn showed among them
Like a mountain of snow.