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Cockles and Mussels
(Irish Folk Song)
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This song is also called Molly Malone.

Cockles and Mussels
Folk Song

Cockles and Mussels - Irish Children's Songs - Ireland - Mama Lisa's World: Children's Songs and Rhymes from Around the World, Intro Image


In Dublin's fair city,
Where the girls are so pretty,
I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone,
As she wheel'd her wheel barrow,
Thro' streets broad and narrow...

(Chorus)
Crying, "Cockles and Mussels alive, alive-O!
Alive, alive-O! Alive, alive-O!"
Crying, "Cockles and Mussels alive, alive-O!"

She was a fishmonger,
But sure 'twas no wonder,
For so were her father and mother before,
And they each wheel'd their barrow
Thro' streets broad and narrow...

(Repeat Chorus)

She died of a fever,
And no one could save her,
And that was the end of sweet Molly Malone.
But her ghost wheels her barrow
Thro' streets broad and narrow...

(Repeat Chorus)
 
Watch
You can hear Margaret sing a lovely rendition of Cockles and Mussels in the video below. The lyrics to her version are in the notes.

Please let us know if you think this video has been taken down by YouTube.
Thanks!

Notes

This song was written and composed by James Yorkston (who was Scottish).

*****

Cockles and Mussels - Margaret's Version
(Also called Molly Malone)

In Dublin's fair city,
Where the girls are so pretty,
There lived a fishmonger,
Named Molly Malone,
And she wheeled her wheelbarrow,
Through the streets broad and narrow...

(Chorus)
Crying, "Cockles and Mussels alive, alive-O!
Alive, alive-O! Alive, alive-O!"
Crying, "Cockles and Mussels alive, alive-O!"

She was a fishmonger,
A fishmonger's daughter.
Her father's grandfathers
Were fishmongers too.
And they wheeled their wheelbarrows
Through the streets broad and narrow...

(Repeat Chorus)
Crying, "Cockles and Mussels alive, alive-O!
Alive, alive-O! Alive, alive-O!"
Crying, "Cockles and Mussels alive, alive-O!"

She died of the fever,
T'was nothing could save her,
And that was the end of
Sweet Molly Malone.
Now her ghost wheels her barrow
Through streets broad and narrow...

(Repeat Chorus)
Crying, "Cockles and Mussels alive, alive-O!
Alive, alive-O! Alive, alive-O!"
Crying, "Cockles and Mussels alive, alive-O!"

Photos & Illustrations

Cockles and Mussels - Irish Children's Songs - Ireland - Mama Lisa's World: Children's Songs and Rhymes from Around the World, Comment Image

Cockles and Mussels - Irish Children's Songs - Ireland - Mama Lisa's World: Children's Songs and Rhymes from Around the World 1

Thanks and Acknowledgements

Many thanks to Katherine Quinn for contributing this song.

Thanks also to Margaret B. for contributing the second version of this song and for sharing her lovely YouTube video rendition of Molly Malone. We've posted another YouTube video by Margaret called Spider's Web. You can click the link for the lyrics and video. You can see other YouTube videos by Margaret on her YouTube Home Page.

Illustrations compiled by Mama Lisa. Photo of the Molly Malone statue is by Monique Palomares.

Thanks so much!

Lyrics & Recordings Needed!

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