Bluegrass Messengers

Molly Vaughan- Mary Ann Smith (Herefs) 1908 Leather


[From a Ella Mary Leather MS in the Vaughan Williams online Collection-- Ella Mary Leather Manuscript Collection (EML/2/7)

R. Matteson 2016]


Molly Vaughan- Sung by Mary Ann Smith of Weobley, Herefordshire, in September, 1908. Learned from her mother. Collector Ella Mary Leather

Come all you young fowlers[1] what fires your gun
Beware of the shootin' by the settin' of the sun,
With a white apron 'round her head I took her for a swan,
But to my sad misfortune, I shot my Molly Vaughan.

It was under those bushes where my love did run
For to hide herself from me in those heave hail storms
For it's little did I know what happened on that [beach?]
But I have fired and shot my Molly Vaughan by the settin' of the sun.

I went straight up to her with my gun in my hand,
When I viewed her sweet features then[2] I found out she was gone.

Whilst the tears from my eyes for Molly Vaughan I shed,
And I went straight home with my gun in my hand,
Oh mother, dear mother do you know what I have done?
I have fired and shot my Molly Vaughan by the settin' of the sun.

[She] said, "My son don't run away,
Not to leave your own country until your trials come on,[3]
And I will fight for you my love and I will set you free.


1. music has "lads"
2, has "when"
3. this is constructed from both MSS