Young Molly Bawn- (Dublin/UK) c.1850 broadside
[From online broadsides: 1) An Admred Song called Young Molly Bawn --Crawford.EB.1875 [Dublin? : s.n., ca. 1860?] National Library. Other title: Rocking the cradle. 2) Imprint Names: Nugent, J.F. & Co. (Bodleian Library) and 3) An admired Song called YOUNG Molly Bawn; single sheet with Breennan on the Moor (Bodleian)
R. Matteson 2016]
An admred [sic] Song called YOUNG Molly Bawn.
Come all you young fellows that follow the gun,
Beware of late shooting by the setting of the sun,
Her white apron about her I took her for a swan
But to my misfortune it was my Molly Bawn.
He ran to his uncle with the gun in his hand
Saying Uncle, dear Uncle I'm not able to stand,
I've a story to tell you which happened of late
I have lovely Moly Bawn and her beauty was great.
Up comes his father and his locks they were gray,
Stay in your own country and don't run away,
Stay in your own country till your trial comes on,
And I'll see you free by the laws of the land.
My curses on you Toby that lent me your gun
To go a state shooting by the setting of the sun
I robbed[sic] her fair temples and found she was dead
A fountain of tears for my Molly I shed.
I shot my own true lover— alas? I'm undone
While she was in the shade by the setting of the sun
Ah, if I thought she was there I'd caress her tenderly,
And soon I'd get marred to my own dear Molly.
Young women dont[sic] be jesting when your love is sincere,
For if you do they can't love yon or e'er as you care,
You'll know by a young man's conduct, when he's gentle and bland
[T]hat he'll give you his heart and also hi[s] hand.