OH, MOLLY DEAR (GO ASK YOUR MOTHER)
(Traditional - A variation of the 19th Century song "Drowsy Sleeper")
Kelly Harrell - 1926
B.F. Shelton - 1927
Mike Seeger - 1964
As recorded by KELLY HARRELL:
Wake up, wake up, you drowsy sleeper
Wake up, wake up, for it's almost day
How can you stand to sleep and slumber
When your true lover's going away
Once I lived in old Virginia
To North Carolina I did go
There I spied a nice young lady
Oh, her name I did not know
Her hair was black and her eyes was sparkling
And on her cheeks were diamonds red
And on her breast she wore a lily
Oh, the tears that I did shed
When I'm asleep I'm dreaming about her
When I'm awake I see no rest
Every moment seems like an hour
Oh, the pains that cross my breast
Oh, Molly dear, go ask your mother
If you my bride can ever be
If she says no, come back and tell me
And I no more will trouble thee
Oh, no, I'll not go ask my mother
For she lies on her bed at rest
And in one hand she holds a dagger
To kill the man that I love best
*************************
As recorded by B.F. SHELTON:
Oh, once I lived in old Virginny
To North Carolina I did go
There I saw a nice young lady
Oh, her name I did not know
Her hair was black and her eyes was sparkling
On her cheeks were diamonds red
And on her breast she wore a lily
To mourn the tears that I have shed
Oh, when I'm asleep I dream about her
When I'm awake I see no rest
Every moment seems like an hour
Oh, the pains that cross my breast
Oh, Molly dear, go ask your mother
If you my bride can ever be
And if she says no, come back and tell me
And never more will I trouble thee
Last night as I laid on my pillow
Last night as I laid on my bed
Last night as I laid on my pillow
I dreamed that fair, young lady was dead
No, I won't go ask my mother
She's lying on her bed of rest
And in one hand she holds a dagger
To kill the man that I love best
Now, go and leave me if you want to
Then from me you will be free
For in your heart you love another
And in my grave I'd rather be
(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - July 2012)
