Songs about Molly Maguires

Subject: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: O'Boyle
Date: 01 Aug 98 - 01:40 AM

Hey Folks, I've been reading recently about the Molly Maguires, a group of Irish Immigrant coal miners who resorted to violence in Anthracite region of Pennsylvania in the 1860's-1870's, and have wondered if there are any songs written about them. I've also been working on a song about them and want to make sure I am not being redundant on the subject, or more importantly, not stealing anybody's lines. If any one knows of any, please post them.

Slainte agus tapadh leat,

Rick

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: Brack&
Date: 01 Aug 98 - 06:13 AM

I have an album by a band called the Mooly Maguires somewhere I'll dig it out over the weekend and see what's on it.
Mick Bracken

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: Brack&
Date: 01 Aug 98 - 06:16 AM

Mooly?? I mean Molly

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: Bruce O.
Date: 01 Aug 98 - 01:25 PM

In George Korson's 'Minstrels of the Mine Patch' is a section on the Molly Maguires, with 8 songs. I don't have 'Coal Dust on the Fiddle', which might be another place to look.

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: O'Boyle
Date: 03 Aug 98 - 01:33 AM

Bruce, Thanks for the info and any you can give to me later. I used the link to amazon.com and found three books by George Korson, unfortunetly, not the one you mentioned. They did have one called "Pennsylvania Songs and Legends" that by the title looked promising. I think I'll run down to the library and check the book out before purchasing (it was not reviewed on Amazon).

Many Thanks

Rick

Subject: Lyr Add: THE MOLLY MAGUIRES^^^
From:
Date: 21 Aug 98 - 03:12 AM

The Dubliners sing a song I suppose is about this thread, written by Phil Coulter, on their 1969 album 'At Home With The Dubliners'. I've always wondered who exactly the Molly Maguires were. Now I (sort of) know. Any further information is certainly welcome. - Susanne

Chorus:
Make way for the Molly Maguires
They're drinkers, they're liars but they're men
Make way for the Molly Maguires
You'll never see the likes of them again

Down the mines no sunlight shines
Those pits they're black as hell
In mud and slime they do their time
It's Paddy's prison cell
And they curse the day they travelled far
And drown their tears with a jar

Backs will break and muscles ache
Down there there's no time to dream
Of fields and farms, a woman's arms
Just dig that bloody seam
Though they break their bodies underground
Who dare to push them around

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: Big Mick
Date: 21 Aug 98 - 03:10 PM

One interesting point, the Mollies were not just in this country. Ireland was full of secret societies, and the Mollies existed in Ireland also. There is a book on the subject, I (in my advanced age)just don't remember the title.

Mick

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: O'Boyle
Date: 22 Aug 98 - 01:45 AM

There are a few books about them. the latest is "Making sense of the Molly Maguires" by Kevin Kenny.

Rick

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: Pete Peterson
Date: 22 Aug 98 - 12:18 PM

Don't know any songs about them (think the Corson suggestion a good one!) but my non-fiction book where I learned about them was Arthur H. Lewis--"Lament for the Molly Maguires"

and of course the bst fictional treatment is the second half of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Valley of Fear-- yes the Mollies (as villains) wound up in a Sherlock Holmes story!

Subject: Lyr Add: LAMENT FOR THE MOLLY MAGUIRES^^
From: C. Adams
Date: 30 Aug 98 - 01:36 AM

The Irish Rovers have a song called The Lament for the Molly Maguires on their Shores of Americay album. My best shot at the words is below. Also there was a movie about the Molly Maguires (I think The Molly Maguires was the title) that starred Richard Harris.

Chorus
Sucking up the coal dust into your lungs
Underneath the hills where there is no sun
Trying to make a living on a dollar a day
Digging coal in Pennsylvan-i-a

We left old Ireland, we left our homes
Across the ocean we had to roam
With five (can't get this word-gusoons?)and a scrawny wife
Trying to make some kind of a life

Chorus

But the Welsh and the English, the Germans, the Dutch
Controlled the mines and they didn't leave much
A tar paper shanty no Irish apply
The Mollys started blowing all the mines sky-high

Chorus

A straw boss shot and an owner disappears
Many's the Welshman's lost his ears
A company store burned to the ground
The Molly Maguires were spreading all around

Chorus

Black Jack Kehoe looked after his pack
Even honest Irish that wouldn't fight back
Jack and his boys put fear in their souls
The Molly Maguires were controlling the coals

Chorus

But terror ends as it had begun
Jack McFarland, he ended the run
He (left?) as a Molly and he brought their fate
After many years he ended the hate

Chorus

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: O'Boyle
Date: 30 Aug 98 - 02:41 PM

Thanks for the song, I'll look for it and the film. The name in the last verse is probably McParlan, he was the pinkerton detective in the case.

Slainte

Rick

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From:
Date: 30 Aug 98 - 08:00 PM

Rick O'Boyle, Need more background info on the Mollies and coal miners? Check out this book (great bibiography, too)

"The Kingdom Of Coal"
Work, Enterprise, and Ethnic Communities in the Mine Fields
Donald L. Miller & Richard Sharpless copyright 1985 by the U of PA Press
ISBN 0-8122-7991-3

Got my copy in 1993 from the U of PA press @ [phone] in Balitmore MD. Hope this info helps provide you with good info for your song writing. Rosie

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: Steve in Wisconsin
Date: 31 Aug 98 - 08:03 PM

There is a folk trio in Wisconsin called the Molly Maguires. They spoke of the history, but I can't recall any details to add.

Cheers, Steve

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: Dan Milner
Date: 04 Sep 98 - 08:56 PM

Further to Big Mick's comments on 21AUG, the best song I've heard about the Molly Maguires is about the Mollys in Ireland and their anti-landlordism fight...

All you who love your liberty, I hope you will draw near
And likewise pay attention and listen unto me.
I am a man far from my home in sorrow, grief and woe.
Both night and day I mourn away since I left the Shamrock Shore.

It was my cruel landlord that I must blame for all.
He took from me my farm of land although it was but small.
I paid my rent and taxes but he sent me off to roam
To seek for employment far from my native home.

* * * * * * *

My name is Pat Maguire, I'm a shoemaker by trade.
I'm one of Molly's darling sons that never was afraid.
And if every man in Paddy's land would do the same as me.
And fight landlord, sheriff and baliff, then Old Ireland would be free.

HTML line breaks added. -JoeClone, 3-Apr-01.

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 05 Sep 98 - 02:08 PM

Dan- Glad to see you here. Why not beome a member? (It doesn't cost anything, and people can send you personal messages). Do you have a source for the song you posted?

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: Dan Milner
Date: 05 Sep 98 - 04:46 PM

Thank you for the welcome, Dick. I retired about 5 weeks ago so I hope to be more visible in future. What must one do to be a member? I've been assembling "Pat Maguire" for the last year and a half. I got most of the words from an older gentleman in Co. Donegal with a few odd phrases elsewhere. I've written a verse and a half myself. When I get it finished, you might like to put it in the database. Will include the full provenance at that time.

Again, thanks for the welcome. All the best.

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 06 Sep 98 - 11:20 AM

Dan (and other non-members)

If you click on the Mudcat Cafe logo at the top of the page, you'll get to the home page. There's a Membership is Available place to click there.

I'll talk to Max about putting a membership link on the forum page.

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: Brack&
Date: 07 Sep 98 - 08:54 AM

I have an album called The Molly Maguires by a band called The Irish Balladeers. All the songs are those sung by the Irish in the coal mining area of Pennsylvania. It was on Avoca Records, released in 1968. I don't know if you can still get it.

Titles

Sons Of Molly
When The Breakers Go Back On Full Time
The Black Leg Miner
Cushy McCoy
Tommy Duffy
Dad's Dinner Pail
The Knox Mine Disaster
Pat Dolan or the Song Of The Molly Maguires
Up Went O'Reilly
The Shoo-Fly
The Tax Man And The Miner
A Celebrated Working Man
The Irish Emigrant Miner
Pat Mulligan's Wake

The song about the Mollys in Ireland and their anti-landlordism fight is supposedly based on the murder of a Justice of the Peace in County Cavan c1845.

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: Dani
Date: 07 Sep 98 - 02:44 PM

Would add my recommendation of The Kingdom of Coal. Have a lot of family history in those parts, and it really brought to life some of the legends. Also, there's a great book called Breaker Boys with (as I recall) many contemporaneous accounts.

As a non-sequitor, there's a train that runs in Allaire Village in Monmouth County, NJ (a wonderful state park) that carries a caboose used in the movie that Sean Connery (?) was in about the Molly Maguires.

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 07 Sep 98 - 09:54 PM

TO: Brack&

Would you please give us a verse or 2 of "Pat Dolan or The Song of the Molly Maguires". Thanks.

Subject: Lyr Add: Pat Dolan or Song of the Molly Maguires
From: Brack&
Date: 08 Sep 98 - 05:19 AM

As requested! There were some parts of this I couldn't make out. This is what I came up with.

Pat Dolan is my Christian name and this I'll tell to you
And if you'll listen to my tale, I'll tell you something new
In Cavan town where we sat down, our hearts there to inspire
There's bold recruits and ????? youths

Said Molly to her darlin' sons, "the tyrant shall be humbled
That filthy tribe, we can't abide, they rob both meek and humble
There is one man, a child of hell, a magistrate in station
At last we've drawn, to see whose gun, will send him to damnation"

With me rigga-a-dum-do, and to hell with the crew
With me pistol, sword and fire
With bold recruits and ????? youths
And it's up with the Molly Maguires

The lots were cast, ????????? passed, I scorn to tell a lie
For I'm the one that used the gun that caused a man to die
So off to slay I did repair and I did my job quite well
For at his bain, I took me aim, and down that tyrant fell

Now for this deed, his friends indeed, sent out a fearful call
Those Orangemen they all gathered then and swore to kill us all
But Molly's sons with swords and guns, and pikes were all aglancin',
Those bold recruits and ????? youths, stepped onto the field just prancin',

With me rigga-a-dum-do, and to hell with the crew
With me pistol, sword and fire
With bold recruits and ????? youths
And it's up with the Molly Maguires

Those Orangemen they all stood then, to fight they thought it folly
They'd rather run and save their lives, and leave the field to Molly
Although I'm in a foreign land, ???????? I'll ne'er retire
May heaven smile on every child that belongs to Molly Maguire

With me rigga-a-dum-do, and to hell with the crew
With me pistol, sword and fire
With bold recruits and ????? youths
And it's up with the Molly Maguires

James McPharlan sang this song in the barroom of Pat Domer's Sheridan House in Pottsville, November 1873. He was a Pinkerton detective who infiltrated and even rose to become an officer in the Union. McPharlan gave information to the police and many were arrested. Irish and catholics were barred from the jury. Twenty members were convicted and then hung.

Regards

Mick Bracken

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 08 Sep 98 - 09:31 AM

Thanks, Mick. Very interesting. Looks like a song sung at a moderate tempo. I could probably help you with those few words if I had a copy of the tape. Try me at [e-mail] if you want.

As I'm sure you know, many of the greatest Irish patriots have been Protestants. McPharlan was a Protestant as I recall. Do you know whether he was political (an Orangeman) or was this just a job for him?

All the best.

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: O'Boyle
Date: 14 Oct 98 - 01:55 AM

I found the complete lyrics to Pat Dolan in "Minstrel's of the Mine Patch" by George Korson (mentioned above by Bruce O.) I will transcribe and post it in this thread later this week.

Rick

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 14 Oct 98 - 06:53 AM

Thank you. Seems very interesting and I don't have the Korson book.

All the best, Dan

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: Rob O
Date: 02 Nov 99 - 10:41 AM

I just got the CD of "The Irish and How They Got that Way" and it had an interesting song on it called "The ghost of molly maguire"

The chorus is like: And I'll die with my held high For I fought for the men bellow [and something something something] Down in the black hell hole.

The verses are spoken by Molly's who are about to be hung for their crimes of murder, or for just being Irish. It's kinda a neat song, and I'd love to find a lyric/chord listing for it.

Also, just what is everyone's take on the Molly's of America? From my very very superficial research they seem to be like the Robin Hoods of the coal mines...

Rob

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From:
Date: 03 Nov 99 - 06:54 AM

I was wondering when someone would bring up that song that Rob O brings up - The Ghosts of Molly Maguire, Ive been looking for the words for some time. I believe the Irish and How They got that Way, came to the ballad in this way. It was sung by a friend of mine, Marla Collins, a fine singer from the West Vergina Coal communities, I believe, it was also sung by the late New York singer and fiddler, Susan Corrigan (who we all miss). Marla put it on tape for me, and I promptly lost it, however, I will try and get it again and post it, as it is on of the greats... in my less then good recolection of the words and worce spelling...

Oh my name it is ___ and no pistol did I fire, But I will die with my head held high for being a Molly Maguire ______ for I fought for the men below, down in the dark of the old mine shaft down in that old hell hole

when the ____ and the wind blows meloncoly Stand in the dark with your ear to the wind and youll hear the sons of Molly

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: kc
Date: 03 Nov 99 - 12:44 PM

I'm at college in western NY, and last year we had the Trinity Irish Dancers at our school, and one of the dances they did was about the Molly McGuires. There was a blurb in the program about the history, and the song and dance were very dark. It was pretty interesting, because I'd never heard about it. I don't have the program here or I'd fill in the name of the song, but I think it might have been instrumental. :-)

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: paddymac
Date: 03 Nov 99 - 11:27 PM

The Maguires were a 2nd level ruling clan allied with the O'Neils and were centered in the western part of County Fermanagh. I'm not sure of the origin of the "Molly", but I think I've seen it referenced about the time of the 1641 rising, in which the Maguire's and their allied clans featured prominently.

Subject: Lyr Add: SONS OF MOLLY^^ or GHOST OF MOLLY MCGUIRE
From: Len Wallace
Date: 04 Nov 99 - 10:42 PM

Here's a song about the Molly Maguires that I have performed for a number of years and am currently recording . I have not been able to find who wrote it. But here are the words:

SONS OF MOLLY
(Songwriter unknown)

When the wind blows wild at night
in the breaker's melancholy.
If you stand in the dark with your ear to the wind
you can hear the Sons of Molly.
Down in the dark of the old mine shaft
you can smell the smoke and the fire.
And the whispers low in the mines below
are the ghost of Molly Maguire.

Let me tell you boys Michel Doyle is my name
and I come from Carbon County.
I shot the boss of the Lansford Mine
and my soul is up for bounty.
But I will die with my head held high
for I fought for the men below.
For the men who slave and sweat and die
Down in that black hell hole.

Let me tell you boys Everett Kelly is my name
and I'm hanging in the morning.
I shot John Jones for my skin and bones
and I curse the sound of mourning.
But I will die with my head held high
for I fought for the men below.
For the men who slave and sweat and die
Down in that black hell hole.

Let me tell you boys Alex Campbell is my name
and no pistol did I fire.
Yet I will fall from the gallows wall
just for being a Molly Maguire.
But I will die with my head held high
for I fought for the men below.
For the men who slave and sweat and die
Down in that black hell hole.

Repeat first verse.

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: InOBU
Date: 05 Nov 99 - 07:15 AM

GOD BLESS LEN WALLACE!!! I have been looking for those words for years. My dad dug coal as a teenager during the depression and I do a few mining songs - All the best Larry

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: Rob O
Date: 05 Nov 99 - 08:37 AM

That's it!

Now, if I might be so bold... what's the progression?

Oh, I'm a teacher and started some short discussions with my history dept (I teach science) and their opinion of the Molly's in America was taht they were just a band of thugs who contributed little to organized labor, and did less to further their own causes with the conditions of migrant miners.

What's the other opinions out there?

Rob

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: Len Wallace
Date: 06 Nov 99 - 07:24 PM

There's a good book about the Molly Maguires published a number of years back by International Publishers which was a defense of them.

Considering the times, the cruelty of the mine owners, the almost slave like conditions of working in the mines, the racial epithets hurled at Irish workers as "lazy" and "ignorant", it is not surprising that some of the Molly's had taken to violent means to fight against oppression.

They had ties to the Ancient Order of Hibernians (a cultural, ethnic, Catholic based organisation) and worked witin it secretly to make contacts. The work of the Mollys to organise a union was not only physically attacked by the employers, but was attacked by the church - the striving for unionism, any kind of radicalism, was considered anathema by the Catholic priests who preached sermons against them.

The problem was that under such conditions, in those times, with political rights restricted, when "law and order" so flagrantly opposed to the working class, did the Mollys have any other choice?

I think some 10 to 14 members of the Mollys were executed by authorities (hung), most of them innocent men and condemned for crimes they did not commit. Typical example of the justice of the times in the name of capitalist order.

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: GUEST,Mike McC
Date: 17 Feb 01 - 07:28 PM

Hi! I live near Albany, NY, and we have a very good local group here called Hair of the Dog. They just released their newest CD last weekend, "at The Parting Glass." The third song on the album is called "The Ghost of Molly Maguire"---sung to the lyrics printed by Len. It is excellent, you all should check it out!!!

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: Fiolar
Date: 18 Feb 01 - 06:08 AM

The origina of the "Molly Maguires" is supposed to be as follows. "Molly" was apparently a poor widow who was evicted from her home an event which inspired anger among her neighbours. By the Famaine of the 1840s the name was invoked by various insurgents in the counties of Cavan, Longford, Donegal and Tyrone. In 1847 a Tyrone landlord received a threatening letter with the postscript "Molly Maguire and her children have been watching you.". They first appeared in the U.S. about 1857 when a society of that name was alleged to be in Pennsylvania. The first documentation however occurs after the American Civil War. Don't forget the 1970 film "The Molly Maguires" starring Sean Connery and Richard Harris, which allowing for some poetic licence is reasonably accurate and is based on a true event. James McParlan as played by Richard Harris really did exist and became the manager of the Pinkerton's Western Division based in Denver. In 1906 he investigated the murder of the ex-governor of Idaho. Jack Kehoe as played by Sean Connery was executed but instead of a clean neck break strangled to death because of an "error" by the hangman.

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 18 Feb 01 - 09:18 AM

Driving around Wales last summer, I picked up a book on the Mollies (Kenny, Kevin. Making Sense of the Mollie Maguires. New York, Oxford University Press, 1998.)in Hay-on-Wye. It's very interesting, very well researched and complete, and I can recommend it to any and all.

All the best,
Dan Milner

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: InOBU
Date: 18 Feb 01 - 10:00 AM

Hi Dan, after this post last year, I recieved an angry email from the author of the great GREAT song about the Molly McGuires mentioned above by the band of the same name. He made reference eather to Malarchy or McCort and I presumed it was my old pal, now refered to as Frank's brother!
I saved the note in a computor which was later hit by lightning, and really wish he would write back, as I would love to do his song, and would not do it without proper acknowlegement.
I asked for clarification of his anoyance, as he seems to have written the note in a state of some anger, I believe, presuming I knew more of the story of missuse of his song.
If you read this, my hat is off to you, your song is a CLASIC! I hope it will be played for generations to come and attributed to you, so please get back in touch with all of us.
Anyone in contact with him, do tell him to write to us.
Cheers
Larry

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: Jimmy C
Date: 18 Feb 01 - 02:31 PM

O' Boyle, I remember reading a great book about the Pennyslvania Molly's. I Think it was called " The Day They Shook The Plum Tree" or a title close to that. I don't even know where or how I came to have it. It was one of those books that you couldn't put down once you started to read it. If it still in print it would be worth pursuing,
There was a group of friends of mine here in Ontario called " The Molly Maguires" Their only recording contained one song about the coal miners. That is the one mentioned above, with the following chorus
" Make Way for the Molly Maguires
They're drinkers, they're liars but they're men
Make way for the Molly Maguires

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 18 Feb 01 - 05:10 PM

Oooh thanks for the histories... makes a whole heap of family history make sense now....

My brother in law has the surname of Guirey. There is only one other indirect family in the world that we know of with this name, and he is the son of the Aga Khan.... Apparently when the family landed at Liverpool from Ireland, they changed their names to something allegedly Anglicised. Now I don't know about you but Guirey isn't particularly more Anglicised than MacGuire, which is what they were before. To find out the negative associations with that name, makes a whole heap more sense....

LTS

And it was Sean Connery, it was one of his better films outside of Bond. Well I think so.

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: InOBU
Date: 18 Feb 01 - 10:10 PM

Hi JimmyC:
Nope I meant the other band Molly McQuires... of "When the wind blows wild at night in the breaker's melancholy. If you stand in the dark with your ear to the wind you can hear the Sons of Molly. Down in the dark of the old mine shaft you can smell the smoke and the fire. And the whispers low in the mines below are the ghost of Molly Maguire." fame, it says author unkown in the post, but I am KICKING myself, for the great fellow wrote to me, and as I said, the note got LOST!
Life can be cruel!
Cheers
Larry

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: GUEST,gloria guest
Date: 05 Jan 02 - 04:13 PM

Hi Rob, Are you still here? I'm replying to a 1999 thread where you said your research paints a picture of the Mollys as Robin Hoods. I'd like your references as all my research makes them look like terrorists and makes no mention of their connections to unionization and the mines. I would like to see some info on the flip side of the coin. Thanks, Gloria Guest

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: GUEST,Gordo
Date: 18 Aug 02 - 11:57 PM

I would bet that's only legend. I really doubt that McParlan would have sung that song that particular song when trying to infiltrate the Mollies. He never would have wormed his way in being that obvious; give him credit for a little subtlety.

GMcK

Subject: Lyr Add: PAT DOLAN
From: masato sakurai
Date: 19 Aug 02 - 05:14 AM

From: George Korson, Minstrels of the Mine Patch: Songs and Stories of the Anthracite Industry (1938; Folklore Associates, 1964, pp. 255-257; without music). Original spellings retained.

PAT DOLAN

Pat Dolan, it's my Christian name,
Yes, and my surname too, sir;
An' oft you've listened to me sthrane,
I'll tell you somethin' new, sir!
In Cavan-town, where we sat down,
Our Irish hearts to inspire,
There's bould recruits an' undaunted youths,
An' they'r led by Mollie Maguire!

CHORUS
With my riggadum du, an' to hell wid the crew
Wouldn't help to free our nation;
When I look back, I count 'em slack,
Wouldn't join our combination!

Said Mollie to her darlin' sons,
"What tyrant shall be tumble?
That filthy tribe we can't abide,
They rob both meek and humble;
There is one Bell, a child of hell,
An' a magistrate in station,
Let lots be drew an' see which av you
Will tumble him to damnation!"

The lot's now cast, the sentence passed,
I scorn to tell a lie, sir!
I got my chance, it wur no blank;
I wur glad to win the prize, sir!
To swate Bill Cooney's I did repair,
To meet the parson, Bell, sir!
At his brain I took me aim,
Sayin', "Come down, ye fin' o' hell, sir!"

Those Orangemen, they gathered then,
An' swore they'd kill us all, sir,
For their frien' Bell, who lately fell,
An' got a terrible fall, sir!
But Mollie's sons, wid swords an' guns,
Wid pikes--pitchforks--glancin',
Those bold recruits an' undaunted youths,
Stepped into the field just prancin'.

Those Orangemen, they all stood then,
To fight they thought it a folly;
They'd rather run an' save their lives,
An' leave the field to Mollie!
Altho' I'm in a foreign land,
For the cause I'll ne'er retire,
May heaven smile on every chil'
That belongs to Mollie Maguire!

One night as I lay upon me bed,
I heard a terrible rattle;
Who wur it but Bell, come back from hell,
To fight another battle!
Then at his brain I took me aim--
He vanished off in fire--
An' as he went the air he rent
Sayin', "I'm conquered by Mollie Maguire!"

Now I'm in America
An' that's a free nation!
I generally sit an' take my sip
Far from a police station!
Four dollars a day--it's not bad pay--
An' the boss he likes me well, sir!
But little he knows that I'm the man
That shot that fin' o' hell, sir!

CHORUS
Wid me riggadum du, an' to hell wid the crew,
Wouldn't fight to free our nation,
When I look back I count 'em slack--
Wouldn't join our combination!

Other songs in the "Molly Maguires" chapter (pp. 257-268) are:

Jimmy Kerrigan's Confession ("You know I am that squealer they talk so musch about")
Doyle's Pastime on St. Patrick's Day ("It was early on this morning")
Michael J. Doyle ("Mount Laffee, oh my happy home! Of thee I love to sing")
The Doom of Campbell, Kelly and Doyle ("Kind-hearted Christians, I pray you give attention")
Hugh McGeehan ("Come all ye true-born Irishmen wherever you may be")
Thomas Duffy ("Come all ye true-born Irishmen, wherever you may be")
Muff Lawler, the Squealer ("When Muff Lawler was in jail bad did he feel"; with music)

~Masato

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 20 Aug 02 - 03:36 AM

Chuck Rogers of the Irish Balladeers, Scranton, PA wrote the Sons Of Molly, and you can contact him at The Banshee Pub, 320 Penn Ave., Scranton, PA 570-969-4248.

All the best.

Seamus

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: ard mhacha
Date: 20 Aug 02 - 07:10 AM

James McPaland [the name is always spelt as such] came from south Armagh [God forgive him], And Liam`s brother the reason why he infaltrated the Mollies was because he was a Catholic. There is as much chance of a McParland in south Armagh being a Protestant as Ian Paisley being Pope. Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: Big Mick
Date: 20 Aug 02 - 11:48 AM

Thanks, Ard. I was going to point out that with that name in South County Armagh, it was highly unlikely he was a Protestant.

I am dying to get a recording of that song that Len Wallace transcribed above, The Sons of Molly. In fact, I would be very grateful if anyone could provide recordings for any of these songs.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: ard mhacha
Date: 20 Aug 02 - 02:17 PM

Hope you get a response Mick, I do remember The Wolfe Tones or The Dubliners singing a song about the Mollies, Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: Big Mick
Date: 20 Aug 02 - 02:55 PM

OK, I found a recording by Blackthorn (Philadelphia group)by doing a Google search on the song name. They had a soundclip of it that gave me enough to get the arrangement.

I enjoyed the soundclip and think I will purchase the CD. Later I will post the chords or a midi

Mick

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 20 Aug 02 - 03:57 PM

Mick, Morning Star CD on the way with the Sons of Molly. Great arrangement. If you record it, please credit Chuck Rogers. See you in a couple of weeks.

Seamus

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: GUEST,Patrick
Date: 03 Sep 02 - 08:23 PM

I've been trying to figure out the chords for The Irish Rovers - Lament for the Molly Maguires. I feel like my ear is missing something. Is there anything else in there besides Eb Ab Bb, or is it all just a variation on those three? Any help would be appreciated.

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: GUEST,Nick
Date: 04 Sep 02 - 04:23 PM

Seamus, what's the tune of the Sons of the Molly Maguires? Tom Dahill (don't know if you know him) used to sing that song at my request, but I can't for the life of me remember the tune.

Nick

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: Bennet Zurofsky
Date: 04 Sep 02 - 06:33 PM

McParlan, the great villain of the piece from my point of view, was also a great hero to many. There was quite a bit of pulp fiction about him. The reputation of Pinkerton's as THE private detective agency (especially if you require goons and ginks and company finks in connection with a labor dispute) is largely owing to his pernicious work. McParlan was not only a major figure in the eventual hanging of the Molly Maguires in Pa., he was also the principal "framer" of the trumped-up case against Big Bill Haywood and others in Couerdelaine (sp?), Idaho, when a terrorist bomb blew up the governor. McParlan was one busy fellow.

I am pretty sure that McParlan's work inspired a series of pulp detective novels in which he was the star. He was certainly a great hero to the capitalist class who seem to have done their best to propagandize his virtues.

I expect there is a great deal of folk-loric type material about him, other than the negative references that appear in a couple of the songs set forth above. In the Sean Connery movie (which was pretty damned good, considering), he was ambiguously (perhaps realistically) portrayed as something other than villain but somehow less than a hero.

Does anyone have some interesting songs and stories about McParlan, rather than than about his victims? I would be interested in the positive ones as well as the negative ones (in the interest of impartial science).

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: GUEST,P.Miller
Date: 16 Sep 02 - 04:47 PM

Why the name Molly Maguires? Was this a real person? please reply. Thank you, Priscilla Miller,My husband is an Irishman ,father,grand and great grandfathers all miner's.

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: masato sakurai
Date: 17 Sep 02 - 10:26 AM

Opinions seem to differ on the origin of that name:

(1) The name is something of an enigma. Multiple sources say it stems from the isle of Eire. When absentee English landlords put an Irish Protestant, Scot, English, or Welshman in their place, cutthroats which rebelled against them took this name. Molly Maguire is said to have been an actual woman, a widow, who would not leave her cottage when Protestant Irish, English, Welsh, or Scottish attempted to remove her for her Catholicism. These were dark times of persecution for Irish Catholics and were not to get better by crossing the Atlantic. Eventually, the English made a motion that would not allow Catholics to hold land. The Irish were hopelessly shut out. A cross-dressing trend among angered Irish land tenants was born. "Take that from a son of Molly Maguire!" was often heard before an offensive person of authority was bashed accordingly. With the potato famines of the 1840s, it mattered little whether they were persecuted; no violent retaliation would stop the suffering of starvation. The influx of Irish Catholics in America rose in a J curve. (From THE MOLLY MAGUIRES (1970))

(2) Original "Mollie" a Woman. - Authorities claim that a rather ferocious woman by the name of "Mollie Maguire" had killed several of the hated agents of the landlords. Subsequently a body of men formed a society ostensibly for the purpose of "eliminating" the agents by murder. The "ideals" of the organized murderers coinciding with those of Mollie Maguire's, they dubbed themselves, or were thus named by others "Mollie Maguires." (From The Molly Maguires)

(3) This organization of Irish miners was dubbed the "Molly Maguires," after a group of Irish peasants who dressed up as women to antagonize their landlords. This group was infamously known as murderers and assassins and the press and police in America applied the name to the Irish miners. The label was used by both the press and the owner-operators of the mining companies to their distinct advantage. They called anyone who was pro-union a "Molly," inferring that they were criminals at best. This helped to subdue, even if only slightly, uprisings in the work place. (From The Molly Maguires)

~Masato

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: ard mhacha
Date: 17 Sep 02 - 05:04 PM

Thanks Masato, I remember reading a book on the Mollies some fourty years ago. Masato`s thread answers most of the questions on the Mollies. Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: GUEST,fan of Bob
Date: 24 Oct 02 - 11:02 PM

Just wanted to pass on a link to a website of a great irish singer who sings a song called "Sons of Molly" along with many other great irish tunes. His "Sons of Molly" is very good. Does any one know who wrote this song? check out this singers site www.bobreeder.com

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: GUEST,Aria Grant
Date: 30 Oct 02 - 09:11 PM

I just wanted to check out this site as Mike Harris is dating a Maguire (Laura or Linda) or maybe both. Anyway after reading this information it is self evident that he has really hit the coal pits. I hope I spelled that right.

Anyway I new he was sinking but how deep is this mine anyway.


He such a handfull

Subject: Lyr Add: MOLLY MAGUIRES (Rick Boyle)
From: O'Boyle
Date: 03 Jan 03 - 02:50 AM

Hello Mudcatters,

It's been a while since I posted anything to Mudcat. I wnet back to this old thread and thought I'd update it with the song I eventually finished and recorded on a self produced CD titled "From Hell to Breakfast." Here is the song, of course all copyrights would apply, but permission to use it is normally granted to those polite enough to ask.

MOLLY MAGUIRES
(Rick Boyle)

My father died in a workhouse.
My mother slowly starved away at home
From a mudfloor cottage in the hills of Donegal,
My brother, sister and I set out to find the world alone.
My sister took a boat to Scotland
My brother and I a ship to Amerikay
Now my sister's a whore in GlasgowTown
And my brother died along the way.....to Amerikay...

No work or prospects, I landed in New York
No freinds or family a stranger on your shore
When a Dublin man came up and offered me a job
To wear a Union army uniform
They gave me a gun and a shovel
Taught me how to march in a straight line
On a sunken road on a farm in Maryland
They sent me out to die.....They left me there to die...

So, I came here to Pennsylvania.
Came here to work at picking coal.
Sorting shale by hand in a hole a mile deep
Waist deep in water as black as my soul
For fifteen years I work down in their mines
Spent half my life bringing up their iron ore
Paid a slave wage for a ton of coal today
In script that went back to the company store

I saw good men die of black lung
I saw strong men crushed like coal
I saw the company repay their greiving wives
By evicting the widows and children from their homes
Then all the anger boiled over
Repaid the bosses with a hail of rifle fire
Some call me damned, some call me a murderer
Some call me Molly MacGuire

So now I sit here in this prison cell
Condemned to die with the coming of the morn
They say confess, or I'm sure to burn in hell
Well, I've been in hell since the day that I was born
I left my soul down in the coal mine
There's nothing left to burn in the heat of satan's fire
They'll forget my name and the names of those who died
But remember Molly MacGuire




Hope it lives up to Mudcat standards.

Rick Boyle

my webpage

Subject: Anybody else know this song?
From:
Date: 09 Feb 03 - 02:47 PM

My grandfather was a coal miner in Western PA and my father (Steel mill worker) used to sing us this song. I was wondering if anyone knew the origins or had heard it before.

I am the son of a miner
And my father's father was a miner too.
There's jobs a whole lot finer
But that's the only job I ever knew.

We go down, down, down,
Digging deeper every time
With pick and shovel always in your hand.

And it's work, work work
Just to give a brighter light
To those who live upon the land.

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From:
Date: 21 Jul 03 - 11:26 AM

With all respect to Chuck Rodgers and his abundent talent no one does
"THE SONS OF MOLLY" like the Donegal Weavers

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: mmb
Date: 21 Jul 03 - 07:16 PM

I will have to go back through some of our old 78 rpm records to see if any of the mining songs specifically mention the Molly Maguires.

What I can contribute at this point is that I was born in Shenandoah, PA, in 1940, when it was still very much a mining town. My grandmother spoke frequently of the secret societies of the mines, including the Mollies and the Black Hand (I never knew if they were the same, or different, groups). She spoke of how the parish priest spoke from the pulpit forbidding his miner-parishioners (who were either not there or congregating at the back door out of earshot) to join these groups, and of his peeling off his collar on the main street to knock some sense into those he met who were ignoring his admonitions.

Author Darryl Ponicsan who wrote "Cinderella Liberty" was two years ahead of me in high school. He also penned a novel named "Andoshen, PA" an anagram of Shenandoah, which contains references to the Mollies.

Finally, an earlier posting mentioned the movie called "The Molly Maguires" and cites Richard Harris in the cast, but doesn't mention Sean Connery's role, which was equally, if not more, central to the story about the mine bosses hiring a Pinkerton detective to infiltrate the miners. Although it came out in 1970, the film can still be rented in many video stores.

Now, off to check those 78's . . .

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: GUEST,RJS
Date: 12 Aug 03 - 09:04 AM

"Sons of Molly" was written by Bobby Rogers of the "Irish Balladeers" from Scranton, PA

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 12 Aug 03 - 01:43 PM

As mentioned earlier in the thread, "Sons Of Molly" was written by CHUCK Rogers of the Irish Balladeers from Scranton, PA.
He has written a few other great coal-mining songs and Cvil-war songs too.

Seamuas

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about? -- Correction
From: GUEST,RJS
Date: 22 Aug 03 - 08:47 AM

Seamus is (of course) correct. It was indeed CHUCK (not Bobby)Rogers who wrote "Sons of Molly." I didn't read down the thread far enough to see that he had already responded to the question. My apologies to both Chuck and Seamus (and many thanks to "[e-mail]" for his/her comment about The Donegal Weavers rendition of the song.)

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: GUEST,RJS
Date: 22 Aug 03 - 09:24 AM

Patrick:

Try adding a "Cm" in the second half of the second line of the verses to "Lament for the Molly Maguires." (The chorus doen't have a minor.) I'm not particularly fond of the "slant" in the lyrics of the last verse where Jake McParlin "...ended the hate."

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: Ray
Date: 22 Aug 03 - 01:59 PM

We took great liberties with the song
"Lament for the Molly MaGuires," to make
it more palatable for those of us who
descended from Pennsylvania anthracite
coal miners, i.e. we "deranged" the last
verse from:

But terror ends as it hadn't begun,
Jake McParlin, he ended the run.
He left as a Molly and he brought their fate.
After many years he ended the hate.

to:

But the era ended as it hadn't begun,
Jake McParlin, he ended their run,
But they could not kill what the Mollies began,
A dawning of freedom for the working man.

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: GUEST,Joe McParland
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 10:22 PM

Changing the words of the song is in line, of course, with the recent revisionist trend to try to re-write the history of the Molly Maguires. For anyone who actually knows the history, it is utterly foolish to equate the Molly Maguires with "a dawning of freedom for the working man." The Mollies' defense lawyers tried to paint their clients as union men, but the real miners union in Pennsylvania (the WBA founded by John Siney) did everything it could to disassociate itself from the Molly Maguire violence and condemned the Mollies at every turn. The Mollies were hanged for cold-blooded murder, not for organizing strikes. It is a pity so many coal miners have identified themselves with a group of Irish saloonkeepers running their own little version of a Murder, Inc.

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: GUEST,Liz in Michigan
Date: 28 Sep 03 - 11:27 PM

hi all,
I am a college student in Michigan and I am taking a terrorism course this semester and our big essey is on the Molly McGuires. I found this page very intriging in that so many people know about them when I have only just learned they existed, after spending 4 years as a history major in America!! From everything I have researched so far I have a picture of the Mollies as being a labor movement that used very violent means to achieve what they wanted/needed. Thanks for all the extra insight!!
Liz

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 12:26 PM

Joe:

If ever there was an episode of "revisionist history" it was the myths that surround the Molly Maguires, however they are generally recognized by historians as representing the "dawning" of organized labor in the U.S. The term "Molly Maguire" was used by the mine bosses to villify any miner who who fought back or spoke out against the discrimination and injustices of the day. Just the label "Molly Maguire" was enough to hang a man.   

The trumped-up or fabricated charges, the kangaroo courts run by the mining company, and the sadistic executions (short rope strangulations)created a public outrage which brought about changes in the way the coal companies treated the miners and led to the formation of miner's unions.

There are hundreds of books and articles about the Mollies that characterized them from sadistic terrorists to heroic martyrs. Much of what has been written is subjective, however you might want to read "Hard Coal Dockets" by Carbon County Judge John P. Lavelle who wrote:

"A private corporation initiated the investigation through a private detective agency. A private police force arrested the alleged defenders, and private attorneys for the coal companies prosecuted them. The state provided only the courtroom and the gallows."


Liz:

You have a tough assignment. Perhaps you could share the results of your research with us and help sort the fact from fiction. I think you'll find that the miners were more victims that terrorists.

- Ray

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: GUEST,Sheila
Date: 02 Nov 03 - 10:57 PM

I just recently got a version of the "Ghost of the Molly Maguires" from a celtic mp3 newsletter I subscribe to. The band, Hair of the Dog, does an excellent job on it. Here is a link to download it:

Here

I'd suggest checking it out. I came to this site from Google, looking for the lyrics to the song and found this great thread. Hope I've added something valuable to it. Slainte!

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Nov 03 - 04:32 PM

in the song "sons of Molly", the name of the hanged is Edward Kelly, not Everett. Edward was hanged when he was just 18 years old along with Alex Campbell, John "YellowJack" Donahue and Michael Doyle on June 21, 1877 at the Old County Jail in Mauch Chunck (Jim Thorpe) PA.

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Nov 03 - 04:49 PM

There are many different theories about the killings by the Molly Maguires. Some say the murders were staged by the mining companies to lead a revolt against the "terrorist" group Molly Maguires who only wanted fair pay. Irish were looked down upon in the 1800's, many could not get jobs anyplace else that the mines, and the mine companies were well aware of that. Consider the juries in all of the trials: They consisted of no Irishmen, but Welsh and English, Ireland's enemies, and German settlers that barely understood English. Mock trials have been staged with different outcomes and numerous pardons have officially been given to Molly Maguires and their descendants by the state of Pennsylvania, proving that the trials were unfair.

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: GUEST,Hagbarthr
Date: 20 Nov 03 - 05:07 PM

MUFF LAWLER THE SQUEALER

When Muff Lawler was in jail right bad did he feel
He thought devil the rooster would he ever heel
"Bejabers," says Lawler, "I think I will squeal."
"Yes, do," says the judge to Muff Lawler.

It was down in the office the lawyers did meet,
"Come in, Mr. Lawler"; they gave him a seat.
"Give us your whole history and don't us deceive."
"Bejabers, I will," says Muff Lawler.

"There are some o' thim near," he says, "and more of thim far;
There are some o' thim you'll never catch I do fear."
"If they are on this earth," he says, "we'll have them I'm sure."
"Yes, but bejabers they're dead," says Muff Lawler.

"It's the live ones we want, not the dead ones at all;
"If you want the whole history, you'll have to take the dead ones
and all."
"Come out with your history or quickly we'll plant
You back in your cell, Mr. Lawler."

"Now I'll commence," he says, "me whole story to tell
When I go back to Shenandoah, I'll be shot sure as hell."
"We'll send you to a country where you're not known so well."
"Bejabers, that's good," says Muff Lawler.

DT #710
Laws E25
@mining @law @America
From Korson, Pennsylvania Songs and Legends
Michael "Muff" Lawler was tried in 1876 Schuylkill county Pennsylvania as
an accessory to murder and turned state's evidence.
filename[ MUFFLAWL
TUNE FILE: MUFFLAWL
CLICK TO PLAY
SOF
oct96

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Feb 04 - 01:19 PM

great sone called "The Ghost of Molly McGuire" performed by Donny Brook Fair. They haven't been a band however for quite some time. It's too bad because that was one of favorite songs.

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: GUEST,TJChurch
Date: 15 May 04 - 04:27 AM

I found this site searching for lyrics for "Sons Of", which is often performed around town & at family functions by my Uncle. His name is Bill Davis. He performs in the Ohio/PA area in Irish-music groups, as well as having put out a CD made of both covers & originals.

Subject: Lyr Add: ALEXANDER (Adrian M. Bianconi)
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 16 May 04 - 12:39 AM

Another song about the Molly Maguires is called "ALEXANDER" by Adrian M. Bianconi, who performs under the name Dr. B. He is from Wilkes Barre, Pa. and this song appears on his album "A Pennsylvania Homecoming". It is about Alex Campbell, one of the Mollys who was hung in the old Jail at Mauch Chunck (now Jim Thorpe). Unlike the others, he protested his innocence to the very end. He placed his hand print on the wall of cell #17 which he occupied and it remains there to this very day, despite the efforts of 4 successive wardens to plaster it over and eradicate it. Here are the lyrics.

I'm an immigrant here from Ireland
And on this wall I will lay my hand
As long as these prison walls will stand
You'll gaze upon my mark
It's a curse I place right before your eyes
It's my protest to my hanging high
I'm innocent of this heinous crime
My mark is your disgrace

(CHORUS) It doesn't matter if I live or die
What really matters is the reason why
I'm innocent and I'll tell no lie
You've made a big mistake
There's more to this than can meet the eye
I swear to you I have an alibi
'Cause I've been framed by another guy
And now my life you'll take

Alexander Campbell is my name
A poor saloon keeper is my fame
I started off in the mining game
A slave of your embrace
I never heard of this man named Jones
I swear it to you upon my bones
Why don't you leave me all alone
I pray for God's good grace

My legacy will live on and on
You won't forget me the day I'm gone
I curse this county that did me wrong
And this I do decree
I love my wife who did love me long
I grieve for her because I am strong
I'll face your gallows with this song
Good-bye cell seventeen

The music and lyrics were both written by Adrian Mark Bianconi and copyrighted by him in 1997. The sheet music and recording is available from Morning Lace Music Publishing Company at 1091 Scott Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18705. Phone is [phone] or you can e-mail him at [e-mail] SOL ZELLER

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: GUEST,kristen
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 12:48 AM

I've been reading everyones thoughts on the molly maguires and they were not terriorists as some would believe or even killers.they were men with famlies to feed and went down in the mines before daybreak and came home at dusk it was a hard life. Coal miners were paid an average of 400 dollars a year and owed most to the company store. I live only 5 miles away where the molly maguires from Eckley PA were arrested and hung and where the movie "The Molly Maguires" was filmed.I also am a coal mining reenactor in Eckley and want everyone to know that these men were treated as if they were (pardon my wording) white slaves!They were acting as they did to try and gain some of their freedom and dignity back.

       Thanks for reading.    kristen

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 05:33 AM

But their greedy bosses labelled them terrorists for trying (and daring!) to fight back. They were 'freedom fighters'.

But if you start thinking that way, you may find yourself doubting people like Bush who are telling you that some modern people labelled terrorists are not 'freedom fighters'...

Robin

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 01:04 PM

Kristen, As a bus tour operator, I visit the area frequently and I must say that I enjoy the re-enactments at Eckley immensely. They do paint a very true picture of what life was like for the miners back in those days. However, to my knowledge there were no Molly's that were hung in Eckley. The trials took place in Mauch Chunk which today is called Jim Thorpe and the hangings took place in the jail there, 3 blocks up the hill from the courthouse, where the gallows are still visible. My source is Howard T. Crown who authored a book on the Molly's and serves as my tour guide when I bring bus groups to the area. SOL ZELLER

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 01:22 PM

Robin, I am not a great fan of President Bush, but I think you do a great disservice when you compare the Molly Maguires to modern day terrorists. I consider the Molly's true freedom fighters. They were POOR, downtrodden people who were being exploited by very rich coal barons who profited off their labor and could not care less about their squalid inhuman working conditions. They fought back the only way they could and knew how to. Osama bin Laden on the other hand is very RICH and probably has more money to his name than all of the Mudcatters on this forum combined. His aim is to enslave the whole world to his warped vision of Islam and to kill as many people in the process to get his message across. I would hardly define him as a freedom fighter. If you look at the society that he created in Afghanistan under Taliban rule (particularly the plight of women), you will see where I am coming from. I would put him more in the category of the opressor rather than the opressed. SOL ZELLER

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: GUEST,Mountain Tyme
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 02:07 PM

Having stumbled upon this thread after recently relocating to Hazleton PA (the epicenter of the subject matter of this thread) my intent here is to extend my humble current local observations from ground zero possibly of interest to the researchers/posters above. Years ago I used to drive quickly thru this very depressing area with its mountains of tipple (waste coal and slag) while reflecting upon the horrid lives these people must have lived. I now find that the history of this company store coal region continues as nearly an every day experience even to only a casual observer. Local (very local because of the mountains) TV actively promotes organizations and historical societys dedicated to preserving the sorrid past. Nearby Eckley Miners Village (where the Molly movie was filmed) is a well maintained exposition of the original class separate dwellings, churches and company stores. Villagers in period dress still live here. Tours can be taken weekends during each summer with this summer including special celebrations of the villages 150 year existance. Excellent concerts and stage presentations run thruout the winter months. A newly built museum houses multitudes of local relics from the past and a plush theatre where presentations of songs mentioned in this thread are performed by local musical groups. The awsome "breaker" overshadowing the village is a large beam construction elevated conveyor where children worked twelve hour days sorting out coal/ tipple/slag. The existing breaker was built especially for the Molly movie. It suggests the awsome reality of the period! The village is presently trying to raise $200,000.00 for needed repairs to the aging breaker. VHS tapes of the Molly movie are for sale in the museum store.
Just down the road is the village of Latamer with a historical plaque at its entrance recalling the Latamer Massicre for all to see. This was another unionizing effort by the fed up miners who while retreating were shot dead in their backs by the local Company Store controlled authorities.
For additional reading/research I have found web links profuse just using some of the keywords i've used above.
cheers ? :)
MT

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: GUEST,Sandy Dawson
Date: 06 Sep 04 - 01:37 PM

My husband and I perform in a Celtic band in which we sing a couple of Molly McGuire songs....."Ghost of the Molly McGuires" and "Make way for the Molly Mcguires".
We would be really keen to do some more songs if we could have the words and music. So if anyone can help us we'd be really greatful.
I am especially interested in Rick Boyle's song, "TheMolly McGuires". Rick, if you read this, would you please allow us to have the music and permission to perform (not record) your song?

I have been enthralled with all the info. I have gained from all the above mail. It seems there are differences of opinion as to the motives of the "Molly's". As a "Mugwump" (a fence sitter) I wonder if they could not have started with all good intentions but ended up running foul of the law because of their convictions. Whatever their reasons, there was certainly need for radical change in the mining conditions at the time.

Hope to hear from someone

Sandy Dawson

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 06 Sep 04 - 01:49 PM

If you travel into the area like I have done, you can purchase many song books, & CDs at the various museum gift shops in Scranton, Eckley, Jim Thorpe,& Ashland (all in Pennsylvania). That is where I have learned the many songs about the Molly's that I know from. SOL ZELLER

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: GUEST,Julia
Date: 06 Sep 04 - 10:21 PM

I just read a bit about Molly Maguires, and was wondering if there was any relation to Molly Dancing? Maybe no, just a thought.

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From:
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 03:33 PM

The Irish Rovers sing "Lament for the Molly McGuire's" on their CD "Upon A Shamrock Shore: Songs of Ireland and the Irish". A good tune the lyrics can be found on this site:

http://members.cox.net/irishpubsinger/songbook/irish/L.htm

Scroll down and you'll find the lyrics.

A good, bouncing tune which paints the "Molly's" violence as necessity.

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From:
Date: 11 Nov 04 - 01:12 PM

I have been looking for the email address or website of a vendor who sells only Molly Maguire Shirts and Sweatshirts at various events. The last time I saw him he was in Wildwood NJ for Irish Weekend. Does anyone have this information?

Thanks
Kathleen

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 03:33 PM

Sandy:

I play with "The Donegal Weavers" out of Mountaintop. We do both traditional Irish Folk and Irish immigrant mining music from the early Anthracite era -- including a few Molly Maguire songs. I'm not sure who you play with, but we'd be happy to share anything we have with you. We'll be doing a performance at The Anthracite Museum at McDade Park on January 23. If you're free that day, please stop by and say "hello." You can contact me at [e-mail].

- Ray Stephens

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 04:26 PM

Ray,
      I have your album which I purchased on my last visit to the museum. Can you please post the lyrics to the song "When The Breaker Comes On Full Time" from it on this forum ? That song gives an excellent view of the miner's hopes and aspirations during the Molly Maguire era. Thanks
                                                 SOL ZELLER

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 11:11 AM

Hi Sol:

We took some liberties with the song "When the Breakers Go Back on Full Time" whick I believe is included in the George Korson book "Minstrels of the Mine Patch."    Our friends "The Irish Balladeers" kept closer to the original lyrics, but we opted for a more "politically correct" version.

I understand that the original was written as a conversation between two miner's wives discussing the rumor of a return to full time work, to wit: "...Me calico skirt I will trow in the dirt..."

Our version goes:

Chorus:
And it's ah, sure if the news is true,
Me store bill's the first thing I'll pay.
A stuffed parlor suite and a lounge I will buy,
And an organ for Celia(1), hurray!
Me calico shirt I will t'row in the dirt,
In a silk one won't I cut a shine?
And the very first chance, we'll put Patrick (2) in pants,
When the breaker goes back on full time.

Our troubles are o'er Mr. Murphy,
For the ditchman next door tells me straight,
That the mines will start full time on Monday,
That's phat he tells me t'any rate.
Sure the boss he says told him this mornin',
As he was 'bout entrin' the mine,
That the coal is quite scarce around Philly,
So the rumors is work full time.

(Chorus)

I'll ne'er stick me fist in a washtub,
The Chinee man he'll have me trade,
I'll ne'er pick the coal off the slate bank,
We'll buy everything ready made.
We'll dress up our children like gentry(3),
We'll build up a house big and fine,
And we'll move away from our shanty,(4)
When the breakers go back on full time.

(Chorus)

(1) "Celia" is my mother
(2) "Patrick" is a band member's son.
(3) Originally "fairies"
(4) Originally "the Roundheads"

We also omitted the verse:

The Roundheads won't work with me, Paddy,
They say "Too much no good dis place."
They always lose time after payday,
"Tis meself sure that ne'er like that race.
They won't load their cairs off the livel,
They want runnin' chutes, do ye mind?,
But we'll chase them away to the divil,
When the breakers go back on full time.

I've also heard it sung "The Hungaries won't work wit me Paddy..."

We'll be performing at The Anthracite Museum at McDade Park in Scranton at 2:00 on January 23rd to commemorate the 45th annivesary of the Knox Mine disaster. Hope you can make it.

- Ray

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 01:56 PM

Thank you for posting the song Ray. Not being familiar with all the lingo and curious, I am not familiar with the exact meaning of the word "Roundheads". The first time I heard it was on the Irish Balladeers album. I assume that it has a pejorative meaning or connotation. What exactly does it mean or refer to ?   

                                                 SOL ZELLER

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 12:23 PM

Sol:

Good question. It's been a topic of debate for some time. As I understand it, the derrogatory term "roundhead" was applied to newly arrived Eastern European immigrant miners. I've heard it applied to Hungarians, however I suspect that the term is more generic. Perhaps we can get a more definitive answer from another "mudcatter." In the meantime, I'll check with the Irish Balladeers.

- Ray

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: GUEST,Guest, David Cort
Date: 11 Mar 05 - 12:51 AM

My great Aunt Mary used to tell my father about the "freedom fighters" -- the Molly Maguires. She talked of the near slavery of our people, permenantly indebted to the company, and how the Mollys were fighting to lift us out of that slavery. Auntie was from St. Clair, near Pottsville, and her father had died of black lung when she was ten. She was raised by her uncle, who had friends who were Mollys.

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: GUEST,Guest - Andy
Date: 04 Apr 05 - 12:42 AM

I'm sure there are many meanings for "roundhead"...the one I grew up with and, perhaps, of historical note is "roundhead" - a Protestant of Irish or English background, a supporter of Oliver Cromwell, a term used during the English Civil War

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From:
Date: 24 Apr 05 - 12:55 AM

I'd like to use the deranged last verse of the Irish Rovers' Lament for the molly Maguires in a program I'm singing for a dance comapny that's been commissioned to perform in Jim THorpe, PA on July 23, 2005. My I have your name so that I may credit you in the program? If you live in PA, come see the show. Also, do you know which Irish Rover wrote the song so that I can give him credit too? Thanks Kathy Cowan

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: GUEST,Bill A
Date: 04 Feb 07 - 03:26 PM

Does any one have the sheet music for The Sons of Molly MaGuire?
or please tell me where I can purchase the same.

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: GUEST,David C.
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 07:53 PM

Here's a bit of help with the lyrics:

....bold recruits and UNDAUNTED

Subject: Lyr Add: THE GHOST OF MOLLY MAGUIRE
From: Chip2447
Date: 11 Feb 07 - 01:38 AM

I don't have any background or cooyright information, but here are the Lyrics as sung by "Hair of the Dog at the Parting Glass" by Hair of the Dog

THE GHOST OF MOLLY MAGUIRE

The wind blows cold at night,
The brave are melancholy.
If you stand in the dark
with your ear to the wind
You'll hear the sound of Molly.
Deep in the dark of that old mine shaft
you smell the smoke and fire
and the murmur low
in the mine below
is the ghost of Molly Maguire.

Let me tell you me boys
(Michael Toil) is my name
I come from (Corbin) county
I shot the boss of the Wexford mine
My soul is up for bounty.
And I will die with my head held high
I fought for the men below.
The men who work and fight and die
Down in that black hellhole.

Well, I'll tell you my boys Michael Finnegan's my name
I'm hanging high in the morning.
But I shot Jack Jones for (stealing) my bones.
(I kept the sound from Molly)
And I will die with my head held high
I fought for the men below.
The men who work and fight and die
Down in that black hellhole.

Well I tell you me boys (Alex Scaple)'s my name
No pistol did I fire
And I will fall from the gallows wall
for being a Molly Maguire
Yes I'll die with my head held high
I fought for the men below.
The men who work and fight and die
Down in that black hellhole.

The wind blows cold at night,
The brave are melancholy.
If you stand in the dark
with your ear to the wind
You'll hear the sound of Molly.
Deep in the dark of that old mine shaft
you smell the smoke and fire
and the murmur low
in the mine below
It's the ghost of Molly Maguire
It's the ghost of Molly Maguire.


Chip2447

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Apr 07 - 12:01 AM

In reference to the post from C. Adams regarding the song by the Irish Rovers, The Lament of the Molly Maguires I was able to clarify the one word he didn't know. "Five gossoons and a scrawny wife". A gossoon is a boy.

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: GUEST,a. rees
Date: 29 May 07 - 05:28 PM

i,ve just named my daughter molly her surname is mcguire so it was interesting finding this web site she is 4wks if i had know this she would have a different name

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: GUEST,bulik
Date: 05 Apr 08 - 01:28 PM

The following is the real deal -- it was among papers seized by the Royal Irish Constabulary in an October 1845 raid on a meeting of Molly Maguires in a County Cavan pub:

A New Song on Molly Maguire
To the tune of Betsy Baker

You persecuting landlords now in time give your attention
Likewise you tyrant agents, all to what I'm going to mention
You persecuted peasantry, it will please your hearts desire
To hear the plan that is begun by the famous Molly Maguire
There was McCloud so big and Proud I think it fit to mention
to put men in jail and take no bail it was his whole intention
till liberty as you may see some persons did inspire
to lay him down the dirty hound they say it was Molly Maguire
And Galagher to that you all know he was another villin
To execute his masters plan he always was quite willing
To distrain every poor man it was his whole desire
Till he was laid flat by a o from a Son of Molly Maguire
Likewise Both Bell was sent to hell for his one-side Legislation
The Castle Spy now low does ly and in his destination
the poor orange boys to hear there cries for him they did admire
he was the boy that would destroy the Sons of Molly Maguire
So if any man should take your land or dare to disposess you
dont be Melincoly but send to Molly and soon she will redress you
or if you be wronged by any man she will do what you require
no right well he'll be sent to hell by a o from Molly Maguire
But you Gentry who's kind and free you Kneed feel no alarm
for Molly's Sons are just and true and will do you no harm
its the oppressors of the poor gainst whom hey do conspire
to lay them down in every town is the plan of Molly Maguire
So you tyrants all on you I call to do no further harm
Let the poor man do the best he can and keep his little farm
if you persever I do declare she will haver her desire
by led or steel to make you feel she is famous Molly Maguire
now to conclude and make and end sure you have not objection
may caution always guide her sons may nature them inspire
till we get relief from every thief success to M Maguire

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 05 Apr 08 - 02:27 PM

100

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: GUEST,TJ Destry
Date: 25 Jul 08 - 07:01 AM

"The wind blows cold at night,
The brave are melancholy."

Lady Mondegreen strikes again!

The line is "When the wind blows wild at night, by the breaker melancholy."

The breaker is the place where the coal was sorted out as it came up from the mine. Typically, this was where the child labor came in, which is why, in the song "When the Breakers Go Back on Full Time," (referenced above) they sing of "and the very first chance, I'll put Seamus in pants ... " that is, we'll get the lad a job. "Instead of a burden, they'll be a gain." That song, of course, is sarcastic humor, because nobody is going to live all that well even with the children back at work. (Nothing in the song about working themselves, of course -- part of the joke!)

The brave are never melancholy, are they? I mean ... would they be brave if they were? ;-)

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: GUEST,g. mc
Date: 26 Jul 09 - 11:41 AM

Ive been trying to get the lyrics to the song The Knox Mine Disaster the one sung by The Irish Balladeers so far Ive only found Tom Flannery song The Knocx Mine Disaster 1959 which I guess is the original song but the one by the Balladeers is different. Could anyone help Thank You

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: GUEST,Stotty
Date: 21 Dec 09 - 07:00 PM

Who really gives a bugger what this great song is all about. surely you lot can read and understand the lyrics. My only major concern is that the song is incredibly short and does need a couple of extra verses!

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: The Ghost of Molly Mcguire
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Apr 10 - 01:54 PM

This is the same as an earlier post but with some corrections

THE GHOST OF MOLLY MAGUIRE

The wind blows cold at night,
The brave are melancholy.
If you stand in the dark
with your ear to the wind
You'll hear the sound of Molly.
Deep in the dark of that old mine shaft
you smell the smoke and the fire
and the murmur low
in the mine below
is the ghost of Molly Maguire.

Let me tell you me boys
Michael Doyle is my name
I come from Carlow county
I shot the boss of the Wexford mine
My soul is up for bounty.
And I will die with my head held high
I fought for the men below.
The men who work and fight and die
Down in that black hellhole.

Well, I'll tell you my boys Michael Donnegan's my name
I'm hanging high in the morning.
But I shot Jack Jones for stealin my bones.
I kept the sound from Molly
And I will die with my head held high
I fought for the men below.
The men who work and fight and die
Down in that black hellhole.

Well I tell you me boys Alex Campbell is my name
No pistol did I fire
And I will fall from the gallows wall
for being a Molly Maguire
Yes I'll die with my head held high
I fought for the men below.
The men who work and fight and die
Down in that black hellhole.

The wind blows cold at night,
The brave are melancholy.
If you stand in the dark
with your ear to the wind
You'll hear the sound of Molly.
Deep in the dark of that old mine shaft
you smell the smoke and fire
and the murmur low
in the mine below
It's the ghost of Molly Maguire
It's the ghost of Molly Maguire.

Subject: RE: Molly Maguires: Songs about?
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 15 Oct 10 - 04:11 AM

The lyrics you've posted to the "Ghost (sic.) of Molly Maguire" are at some variance with the original "Sons of Molly" written by Chuck Rogers (with a bit of input by Bobby Rogers) of "Irish Balladeers" fame. It has become an international favorite. I've heard it on O'Connell Street in Dublin. It's been cited several times in this thread, usually incorrectly, so,

One More Time: "SONS OF MOLLY"

When the winds blow wild at night,
Past the breaker melancholy,
If you stand in the dark,
With your ear to the wind,
You can hear the sons of Molly.
Deep in the dark of the old mine shaft,
You can smell the smoke and the fire,
And the whispers low, In the mine below,
Is the ghost of Molly Maguire.

Now I'll tell you boys, Mickey Doyle is my name,
And I come from Carbon County.
And I shot the boss of the Lansford mine,
And my soul is up for bounty,
But I will die, with my head held high
For I fought for the men below,
The men who work and sweat and die,
Down in that black hell hole.

Now I'll tell ya boys Edward Kelly is my name,
And I'm hanging in the morning.
For I shot Jack Jones for skinning my bones,
And I curse the sound of mourning,
But I will die ...

Well, I'll tell you boys Alec Campbell is my name,
And no pistol did I fire.
But I will fall from the gallows wall,
Just for being a Molly Maguire
But I will die...

When the winds blow wild at night...

Hope this helps.

Subject: RE: Songs about Molly Maguires
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Feb 17 - 08:18 PM

Another real-deal Molly Maguire ballad from Ireland:

Ye sons of Grainne, arise from you slumber
That long has been trampled by that daring foe,
And if you chance to be one of the number
Be sure to no traitor your secrets let know.

I'm a Molly Maguire, a foe of oppression,
If you join my cause I'll soon set you free.
If you were in Cloone* town and see our procession,
Our sons they are numbered 5,003.

Stein** was sent down by association,
He thought by his speeches he would put us down.
But O'Connell he published a sign through "The Nation,"***
To each appeal warning through county and town.

I gazed upon Molly. Her tears flowed in torrents.
I asked her the reason why she should deplore:
"Oh son! Dearest son! The cause of my wailing
They've three of my children lying in Ballinamore.

Long life to bold Percy^ he tried to release them
He offered £5,000 to set them free.
But McClowd^^ would not take it - he sent them to Carrick.
Where he thought they'd hang on the gallow's tree.

Now make no delay but assemble together,
You Knights of St. Patrick, your joys to complete.
Just pick the best marksmen that you can bring hither
And place them on sentry at Garadice gate.

Captain Fear-not agreed, and so he did speed.
He loaded his pistol with powder and ball.
With a heart stout and true, this old tyrant he slew,
And death on McCloud that moment did fall.

These bigots so long that have trampled our land
Are now melting like snow from the sun.
And I'd candidly say, without hesitation,
That each Orange ringleader from Molly does run.

By English laws ours arms are branded.
But we have good pikes made out of pure steel,
And each Orange viper that dares to oppose us
We'll teach them to dance a step of McCloud's reel.

Here a health to old Grainne, another to Molly,
Wherever she walks 'neath her banner of green.
May she thrive and prosper, both now, and hereafter,
The rights of old Ireland we'll claim them unseen.

Subject: RE: Songs about Molly Maguires
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Feb 17 - 10:51 AM

The above is another Molly murder ballad from Ireland, similar to "Pat Dolan" (posted here in August 2002) and "A New Song on Molly Maguire" (posted in April 2008), in that it celebrates a killing. The songs were highly effective propaganda for the movement in a largely oral rural culture. A few notes:
* Cloone: A village in County Leitrim associated with the failed uprising of 1798 (the rebel army spent its last night there before being decimated by the British army at Ballinamuck the next day.) The Mollies wanted to seen as the rebels of '98, risen up to fight again, so they frequently invoked Cloone.
** Stein: Clearly a garbled reference to Thomas Steele, who was dispatched by Daniel O'Connell and the Catholic Association in December 1844, at the very dawn of the Molly Maguires, to suppress the movement, which was seen as an embarrassment to O'Connell's campaign to repeal the union between Britain and Ireland.
*** The Nation: A nationalist newspaper in Dublin associated with O'Connell at the time.
^ Percy: William Percy: A popular local landlord who lived at Garadice Lodge.
^^ Captain John MacLeod: A special magistrate from Fermanagh who had been dispatched to Ballinamore, Leitrim, to suppress agrarian disturbances. He was shot dead at the gatehouse to Garadice Lodge after visiting Percy. The assassination, the first by the Molly Maguires, took place near the site in ancient Ireland most closely associated with human sacrifice.

For more on the links between the Mollies and Irish folk culture, see:
"The Sons of Molly Maguire: The Irish Roots of America's First Labor War"
Fordham University Press, 2015

Subject: RE: Songs about Molly Maguires
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Mar 17 - 11:20 PM

Gossoons are young boys. Refer to lyrics of Galway Bay.

Subject: RE: Songs about Molly Maguires
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 29 Jun 17 - 07:12 PM

Does anyone have the words to Tommy Duffy and The Knox Mine Disaster by the Irish Balladeers

Subject: RE: Songs about Molly Maguires
From: GUEST
Date: 22 May 18 - 11:24 AM

Does anyone know the lyrics to the song Tommy Duffy by the Irish Balladeers