DTStudy: Molly Bawn (Polly Vaughn)

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Molly Bawn (Polly Vaughn)
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 08 Jun 16 - 02:58 PM

Seconded. Highly commended!

Is not the ghost present in all the earlier versions?

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Molly Bawn (Polly Vaughn)
From: Lighter
Date: 08 Jun 16 - 03:03 PM

I see an embarrassing error, Richie:

>In these versions the usage of "room" is archaic meaning "dwelling of a swan" or "space of a swan."

"In the room of a swan" means, of course, "in the place of a swan, instead of a swan"; and not as you have it, "in the dwelling of a swan" or "in the space of a swan."

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Molly Bawn (Polly Vaughn)
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 08 Jun 16 - 03:08 PM

Also 'archaic' is a bit over the top. Victorian poets used it. More formal language than archaic language.

If your looking for suggestions for the next few studies, the Irish theme is fairly rich, Willie Leonard, Fanny Blair, Mountains High, Streams of Lovely Nancy. Most of these have suffered from the intrusion of romantic ideas from time to time by the nutters.

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Molly Bawn (Polly Vaughn)
From: Richie
Date: 08 Jun 16 - 05:22 PM

Thanks Lighter and Steve,

I'll fix "room".

Polly's ghost appears in most full versions, print or traditional.

Richie

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Molly Bawn (Polly Vaughn)
From: Richie
Date: 10 Jun 16 - 11:17 AM

Hi,

Here are the final headnotes for the ballad. Because they are long, it's best to read them on my site:

http://www.bluegrassmessengers.com/4-molly-bawn-polly-vaughn-.aspx

The footnotes are still being done.

Special thanks to Steve Gardham, Jonathan Lighter, Richard Mellish and others who have contributed to this thread.

All the best,

Richie

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Molly Bawn (Polly Vaughn)
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 10 Jun 16 - 03:10 PM

You're very welcome, Richie. A very comprehensive study.

I only have one quibble. No matter how many nutters in the past related this to mythology I don't know of anyone living today who would put forward such twaddle.

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Molly Bawn (Polly Vaughn)
From: GUEST,Rory
Date: 06 Nov 23 - 04:28 AM

As mentioned earlier in this thread the earliest printed version of the song called "Molly Bawn" was published in the garland:
The Bottle and Frien'ds Garland; Containing Four Excellent New Songs. I. Damon and Phillis. II. The Bottle and Friend. III. A New Song. IV. Molly Bawn. V. The Macaroni;
Printed by John White (Newcastle) in 1765.

Molly Bawn - garland 1765


A SONG, CALL'D MOLLY BAWN

I'll tell you a story
And a story of late,
Concerning my jewel
Her fortune was great,
She went out in an evening
And the rain it came on,
She went under the bushes
Herself for to screne.

Her love being out fowling,
He shot in the dark.
And to his misfortune
he did not miss his mark;
With her apron being about her,
he took her for a swan.
But Oh! and alas!
It was sweet Molly Bawn.

When he came to her
And found she was dead,
A well full of tears
On his love he did shed,
Crying oh! my dear jewel
My joy and delight,
I durst not presume
For to make her my bride.

He went home to his father,
With the gun in his hand,
Crying father, dear father,
I've shot Molly bawn,
For her apron being about her,
And I took her for a swan,
But ah, and alas
It was sweet Molly Bawn.

Oh, woe to the tobby
For the lend of thy arms,
For unfortunate Wrangle
has done this great harm,
Shot the glory of the North
And the flower of Kiln-wan,
and what shall we do
For the loss of Molly Bawn.

Then up bespoke his Father,
With his head growing grey,
Saying Johnny, dear Johnny,
Don't run away.
For here in this country,
Your trial shall go on,
By the laws of our Nation,
You won't be condemn'd.

Two or three nights thereafter,
To her uncle she did appear,
saying uncle, dear uncle,
Johnny Wrangle set clear.
For my apron being about me,
And he took me for a swan,
But its ah! and alas
It was me Molly Bawn.

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Molly Bawn (Polly Vaughn)
From: GUEST,RJM
Date: 06 Nov 23 - 06:18 AM

Bán is White, in the irish language, imo this suggest the song is of irish origin.

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Molly Bawn (Polly Vaughn)
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 06 Nov 23 - 01:36 PM

Dick, that assertion is beyond dispute.

The 1769 printing has obviously gone through several years in oral tradition before reaching that point. Some of the early Northern Irish versions have more likely/accurate surnames of local provenance, but if there is any reality in the song it must have been lost to time. Like similar songs from the same area, those mentioned above, the song was probably written long after a real event that evolved first as a story.

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Molly Bawn (Polly Vaughn)
From: GUEST,Rory
Date: 06 Nov 23 - 04:28 AM

As mentioned earlier in this thread the earliest printed version of the song called "Molly Bawn" was published in the garland:
The Bottle and Frien'ds Garland; Containing Four Excellent New Songs. I. Damon and Phillis. II. The Bottle and Friend. III. A New Song. IV. Molly Bawn. V. The Macaroni;
Printed by John White (Newcastle) in 1765.

Molly Bawn - garland 1765


A SONG, CALL'D MOLLY BAWN

I'll tell you a story
And a story of late,
Concerning my jewel
Her fortune was great,
She went out in an evening
And the rain it came on,
She went under the bushes
Herself for to screne.

Her love being out fowling,
He shot in the dark.
And to his misfortune
he did not miss his mark;
With her apron being about her,
he took her for a swan.
But Oh! and alas!
It was sweet Molly Bawn.

When he came to her
And found she was dead,
A well full of tears
On his love he did shed,
Crying oh! my dear jewel
My joy and delight,
I durst not presume
For to make her my bride.

He went home to his father,
With the gun in his hand,
Crying father, dear father,
I've shot Molly bawn,
For her apron being about her,
And I took her for a swan,
But ah, and alas
It was sweet Molly Bawn.

Oh, woe to the tobby
For the lend of thy arms,
For unfortunate Wrangle
has done this great harm,
Shot the glory of the North
And the flower of Kiln-wan,
and what shall we do
For the loss of Molly Bawn.

Then up bespoke his Father,
With his head growing grey,
Saying Johnny, dear Johnny,
Don't run away.
For here in this country,
Your trial shall go on,
By the laws of our Nation,
You won't be condemn'd.

Two or three nights thereafter,
To her uncle she did appear,
saying uncle, dear uncle,
Johnny Wrangle set clear.
For my apron being about me,
And he took me for a swan,
But its ah! and alas
It was me Molly Bawn.

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Molly Bawn (Polly Vaughn)
From: GUEST,RJM
Date: 06 Nov 23 - 06:18 AM

Bán is White, in the irish language, imo this suggest the song is of irish origin.

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Molly Bawn (Polly Vaughn)
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 06 Nov 23 - 01:36 PM

Dick, that assertion is beyond dispute.

The 1769 printing has obviously gone through several years in oral tradition before reaching that point. Some of the early Northern Irish versions have more likely/accurate surnames of local provenance, but if there is any reality in the song it must have been lost to time. Like similar songs from the same area, those mentioned above, the song was probably written long after a real event that evolved first as a story.