Molly Malone
"Molly Malone", also called "Cockles and Mussels" or "In Dublin's Fair City", tells of a young fishmonger who sold shellfish in the streets of Dublin and died young of a fever. It has become the city's unofficial anthem, and its story has grown far beyond the song.
- Also known as
- Cockles and Mussels; In Dublin's Fair City
- Roud number
- 16932
- First known printing
- 1876, Boston, Massachusetts
- Credited writer
- James Yorkston of Edinburgh, in an 1884 London edition
- Time
- A waltz in 3/4
Who wrote it?
The song first appears in print in 1876, in a Boston collection of university songs. An 1884 London edition credits James Yorkston of Edinburgh as writer and composer, and says it was reprinted from an Edinburgh publisher, though no copy of that earlier edition has been found. Its bouncy, sentimental style is typical of the music hall songs of its day.
The legend
In the late 20th century a story grew up that Molly Malone was a real woman who lived in 17th-century Dublin. There is no evidence for this, and scholars treat the song as fiction. Even so, in 1988 the Dublin Millennium Commission declared 13 June "Molly Malone Day".
The statue
A bronze statue of Molly with her cart, by Dublin artist Jeanne Rynhart, was unveiled on Grafton Street in 1988 for the Dublin Millennium. It was moved to Suffolk Street, outside the tourist office, in 2014.
We describe this song rather than print its words: versions differ widely from singer to singer, and the best-known ones come from particular recordings.
Recordings
The Dubliners, Pete Seeger, Danny Kaye, U2 and Sinéad O'Connor are among the many artists who have recorded it. A 1988 charity single for the Dublin Millennium reached number 4 in the Irish charts.
Chords in C
| C | Am | Dm | G | | C | Am | D7 | G | | C | Am | Dm | G | | C | G7 | C | C |
Count it in three, like a slow waltz. The tune is easy on tin whistle too.
More Irish songs: Whiskey in the Jar · Danny Boy · all folk songs