Molly Malone

The history of Molly Malone, often called Cockles and Mussels, is steeped in folklore and cultural significance, though its precise origins are somewhat shrouded in mystery. The song is widely associated with Dublin, where Molly Malone is celebrated as a symbolic figure of the city’s history and spirit. While the song is often thought of as a traditional Irish folk tune, its earliest known publication dates to 1883 when it appeared in London in a collection of music-hall songs, credited to James Yorkston. This has led some scholars to suggest that the song may have been written as a Victorian-era composition rather than an older traditional ballad.

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Despite its relatively modern origins, the song quickly became woven into Ireland’s cultural identity, largely due to its vivid portrayal of Molly, a young fishmonger who sells “cockles and mussels” in the streets of Dublin before succumbing to a fever. While there is no historical evidence to confirm that Molly Malone was a real person, local legend has immortalized her as a beloved figure of Dublin folklore. Her statue, erected in 1988, now stands in Dublin’s city center, where she is affectionately known as “The Tart with the Cart.”

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The song gained international popularity in the 20th century through performances by Irish artists and became a staple in Irish music sessions and gatherings. Its melancholic melody and simple yet evocative lyrics evoke the struggles and resilience of Dublin’s working-class history, ensuring its place as a cherished anthem. Today, Molly Malone remains an enduring symbol of Irish culture, embraced by locals and visitors alike as a quintessential part of Dublin’s heritage.

In Dublin’s fair city Where girls are so pretty It was there that I first met sweet Molly Malone She wheeled her wheelbarrow Through the streets broad and narrow Crying “cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh”

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Alive, alive, oh Alive, alive, oh Crying “cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh”

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Now she was a fishmonger And sure, t’was no wonder For her father and mother Were fishmongers too And they both wheeled their barrow Through the streets broad and narrow Crying “cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh”

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Alive, alive, oh Alive, alive, oh Crying “cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh”

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Now she died of a fever And no one could save her Was then that I lost sweet Molly Malone Now her ghost wheels her barrow Through streets broad and narrow Crying “cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh”

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Alive, alive, oh Alive, alive, oh Crying “cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh”