The Ballad Index gives a cross-reference to Henry Thomas' 'Run, Mollie Run'. As Mack McCormick states in his excellent essay on Henry Thomas in the extensive booklet accompanying Herwin 209 ('The Complete Recorded Works of Henry Thomas, "Ragtime Texas"), the horse race between Ten Broeck and Miss Mollie McCarthy on 4 July 1878 'forms the unspoken background for this motley of gambling songs'. Thomas' song is a pastiche that embraces a breadth of tradition.

RUN, MOLLIE, RUN
^^
Run, Mollie, run (x3)
Let us have some fun
Liza was a gambler, learned me how to steal
Learned me how to deal those cards, 'Hold that jack and trey'

Run, Mollie, run (x3)
Let us have some fun
Music in the kitchen, music in the hall
If you can't come Saturday night, you need not come at all

Run, Mollie, run (x3)
Let us have some fun
Whoa Liza, poor girl, whoa Liza Jane
Whoa Liza, poor girl, died on the train
Liza was a gambler, learned me how to steal
Learned me how to deal those cards, 'Hold that jack and trey'

Run, Mollie, run (x3)
Let us have some fun
I went down to Huntsville, I did not go to stay
Just got there in the good old time to wear the ball and chain

Run, Mollie, run (x3)
Let us have some fun

Cherry, cherry
Cherry like a rose
I love that pretty yellow gal
God Almighty knows
Run, Mollie, run (x3)
Let us have some fun
Whoa Liza, poor girl, whoa Liza Jane
Whoa Liza, poor girl, died on the train
I went down to Huntsville, I did not go to stay
Just got there in the good old time to wear the ball and chain
Run, Mollie, run (x3)
Let us have some fun
Liza was a gambler, learned me how to steal
Learned me how to deal those cards, 'Hold that jack and trey'

Run, Mollie, run (x3)
Let us have some fun
She went down to the bottom field, did not go to stay
She just got there in the good old time to wear that rollin' ball

Run, Mollie, run (x3)
Let us have some fun

Source: transcription by Mack McCormick in booklet accompanying Henry Thomas 'Ragtime Texas: Complete Recorded Works 1927 to 1929 in Chronological Order' Herwin LP 209.

'Run Mollie Run' was recorded on 7 October 1927 in Chicago and issued as Vocalion 1141. The complete recorded works of Henry Thomas have been reissued on CD: Henry Thomas 'Texas Worried Blues: Complete Recorded Works 1927-29' Yazoo 1080/1. The Yazoo has some fine notes by Stephen Calt, but the best and most comprehensive essay yet written about Henry Thomas is McCormick's.

--Stewie.