Lyr/Chords Req: Johnny and Molly

Subject: LYR ADD: Johnny and Molly (a.k.a. Love Farewell)
From: Levana Taylor
Date: 24 Aug 21 - 11:14 PM

JOHNNY AND MOLLY
As sung by Dolores Keane (on the album There Was a Maid)

Johnny and Molly they sat reposing
Under a bank of blooming roses.
While at the quay the ships were waiting,
This young couple sat repeating:

REFRAIN (after each verse):
Love farewell, darling farewell,
And it's all for parting, love farewell.

"Johnny dear, now do not leave me,
For your absence it would grieve me;
For if you go where the cannons rattle,
I fear my love might fell in battle."

"Molly dear, now do not mourn,
For there's a relief at my returning;
For when I get back from the war's alarms,
I'll gently roll you in my arms."

The old woman says, "Now, do not wrong me,
Do not take my daughter from me,
For if you do I will torment you,
At my death my ghost will haunt you."

The ship now she sails on the stormy ocean,
Seeking out on high promotion;
While the trumpets sound and the drums are beating,
March, me boys, for there's no retreating.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Johnny and Molly - know it?
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 19 Jun 04 - 05:29 PM

Faulkner's comments confirm that it's the song I guessed at, though doubtless it differs from the broadside, of which the Williams text is a shortened derivation. The Hammond and Sharp sets are unpublished so far as I know. The Greig-Duncan examples (4 published) are rather variant, and seem to be specifically Scottish adaptations, though containing some of the same material and esentially the same refrain. The Drogheda set begins in much the same way as the English examples, but that's all I know.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Johnny and Molly - know it?
From: Bearheart
Date: 19 Jun 04 - 04:02 PM

Sorry--should have mentioned the liner notes were written up by John Faulkner.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Johnny and Molly - know it?
From: Bearheart
Date: 19 Jun 04 - 04:00 PM

Malcolm, I looked at the broadside and it's not the same, though in that family of songs for sure.

I decided to dig out the album and look at the liner notes, this is what I found:
"Johnny and Molly
There are numerous songs about true lovers being separated by the pressgang, the recruiting sergeant, or the lure of 'The King's Shilling'. This song is in a slightly more light-hearted vein than most.
Under varying titles: 'Love Farewell' and 'Johnny and Mary', it has been frequently found in the south of England with texts appearing in the Sharp, Hammond and Gardiner collections. Alfred Williams in Folksongs of the Upper Thames describes it as 'An ancient piece reminiscent of operations against the French and Dutch.'
Dolores learned it from Donal McGuire, who collected it in Drogheda. It is possibly the only version to have been found in Ireland."

Any way to trace it from this?

Thanks

Bekki

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Johnny and Molly - know it?
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 19 Jun 04 - 03:40 PM

Not having heard the recording in question (whatever it might have been), I can only guess at the identity of the song: but I should say that it's John and Moll, which has turned up in oral currency as Love Farewell (and other titles). Number 1301 in the Roud Folk Song Index, where only a small number of examples are listed (I haven't yet seen the new edition just out), all from England and Scotland.

You can see a London broadside example at Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads:

John and Moll

Did Dolores say where she got the song?

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Johnny and Molly - know it?
From: Bearheart
Date: 19 Jun 04 - 01:41 PM

I was doing a search for the same song as "Guest, Jackie" was looking for and came up with this thread-- but checked the link and it is not the same song. I noticed Jackie never checked back-- too bad because I'd like the words myself! and have noticed that if a song thread is up long enough usually some one can come up with the lyrics...

Bekki

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Johnny and Molly - know it?
From: Sorcha
Date: 04 May 02 - 10:14 AM

Lyrics posted here (CLICK) are by Dervish, are they close enough?

Subject: Johnny and Molly - know it?
From: GUEST,Jackie
Date: 04 May 02 - 12:02 AM

Looking for lyrics/chords to traditional ballad sung by Dolores Keane. first verse.. Johnny and Molly they sat reposing, under the banks of the blooming roses. While in the quay the ship was waiting these two lovers sat repeating, love farewell, darlin' farewell, and it's all for parting, love farewell.