Welcome to murder Ballad Monday. Last week I looked at
the traditional ballad Polly Von. This week I want to explore a version of this
song called Molly Bond hauntingly
sung by the Oysterband. We
discovered this band when we lived in England and I was thrilled to have a
counterpart to Polly Von.
I cannot find the origin of this particular version
except that it is “traditional.” It differs from the Peter, Paul and Mary
version in that the man does go to trial and at that trial Molly’s ghost
appears and exonerates him saying that it was not murder, but a case of
mistaken identity and accidental death.
About 20 odd years ago, we found a picture book of
this version at Barnes and Noble and we were surprised to see her ghost
appearing at the end. I have searched on and off over the years and have never
found this book again. If you know of it, please let me know.
Here is the Oysterband singing this ballad. The music
has an almost sinister quality to it that gives me the chills. I have included
the lyrics below if you’d like to follow along.
Lyrics:
Come
all you young gallants that delight in a gun
Beware of your shooting at the setting of the sun
It happened one evening in a large shower of hail
When under a bower my love was concealed
He apron flew around her, I took her as a swan
And I shot my own darling at the setting of the sun
As I walked up to her and found it was she
My limbs they grew weary and my eyes couldn't see
The ring on her finger, most bitterly I cried
O Molly, if you were living, you'd've been my fond bride
Home to my father like lightning I did run
Saying Father, dearest father, do you know what I've done?
Her apron flew around her, I took her as a swan
And I shot my own darling at the setting of the sun
Her apron flew around her, I took her as a swan
And I shot my own darling, and where shall I run?
His father in the corner with his hair turning grey
O my dear Jimmy, don't you run away
Stay in this country until the trial comes on
You never shall be hung by the laws of this land
The day of the trial to the judge she appeared
As God is my witness young Jimmy must go clear
My apron flew around me, he took me as a swan
And I know his heart lies bleeding for his own Molly Bond
Beware of your shooting at the setting of the sun
It happened one evening in a large shower of hail
When under a bower my love was concealed
He apron flew around her, I took her as a swan
And I shot my own darling at the setting of the sun
As I walked up to her and found it was she
My limbs they grew weary and my eyes couldn't see
The ring on her finger, most bitterly I cried
O Molly, if you were living, you'd've been my fond bride
Home to my father like lightning I did run
Saying Father, dearest father, do you know what I've done?
Her apron flew around her, I took her as a swan
And I shot my own darling at the setting of the sun
Her apron flew around her, I took her as a swan
And I shot my own darling, and where shall I run?
His father in the corner with his hair turning grey
O my dear Jimmy, don't you run away
Stay in this country until the trial comes on
You never shall be hung by the laws of this land
The day of the trial to the judge she appeared
As God is my witness young Jimmy must go clear
My apron flew around me, he took me as a swan
And I know his heart lies bleeding for his own Molly Bond
That’s all for Murder Ballad Monday. Stay tuned for
another version of Molly Bond.
Hauntingly beautiful.
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