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Here I am sad and lonely here in the distant west,
And the pleasant dreams of bygone days at night disturb my rest;
But in this faithful heart of mine forgotten never shall be,
Oh, the days I spent with Molly Bawn of old beyond Loch Lee.
For she was young and slender, as gentle as a fawn,
Her eyes they shone like diamonds bright or like the stars at dawn;
Her smile she had for everyone but her kisses were all for me,
Entranced, I gazed on Molly Bawn of old beyond Loch Lee.
And when I claimed her for my bride how happy then was I,
How pleasant were the hours of love and how quickly they'd pass by;
A pleasant light shone in her eyes, she was too good for me,
When an angel claimed her for his own and took her from Loch Lee.
Here I have travelled the stormy world, my hair is silvery hue,
A plaintive voice rings in my mind, its tone I can't subdue;
Her lovely form it haunts me still and her pleasant face I can see,
For it is the face of Molly Bawn of old beyond Loch Lee.
For she was young and slender, as gentle as a fawn,
Her eyes they shone like diamonds bright or like the stars at dawn;
Her smile she had for everyone but her kisses were all for me,
Entranced, I gazed on Molly Bawn of old beyond Loch Lee.
Sung by Alphonse O'Driscoll [b.1901] of Tors Cove, NL, and published in MacEdward Leach And The Songs Of Atlantic Canada © 2004 Memorial University of Newfoundland Folklore and Language Archive (MUNFLA).
A variant of Molly Bawn was arranged by Dennis Ryan of Ryan's Fancy (Sea People, 1980).
