The death of Molly Vaughn

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

Molly Vaunder went a walking, when a shower came on;
She went under a birch tree the shower to shun.
Jimmie Randells was a hunting, a hunting in the dark.
He shot at his true love and he missed not his mark.

He picked up his gun, to his uncle did run
Saying, “Uncle, dearest uncle, I have killed Molly Vaughn!
I’ve killed that fair damsel, the joy of my life,
And I always intended to make her my wife.”

Up stepped Jimmie’s father, with his locks turning gray
Saying, “Jimmie, dearest Jimmie, do not run away.
Stay in your country till your trial comes on;
You ne’er shall be hurt for killing Mollie Vaughn.”

On the day of Jimmie’s trial, Mollie’s ghost did appear.
“Say, ye gentlemen of the jury, young Jimmie goes clear.
With a white apron round me, he took me for a swan
And Jimmie shall ne’er be hurt for killing Mollie Vaughn.”

Martha Tilston, above, recorded Polly Vaughan in 2006 for her CD Of Milkmaids & Architects. This YouTube video shows her at Acoustic Routes, in the Cellar of CB2 Cambridge, England in April 2008

---

This ballad exists in many versions. In America the heroine is known as Molly Vaughn, Polly Van, Molly Banding, Molly Vaunders, Polly Bon, and Polly Bond, but often the ballad is called “Molly Bawn” or “Shooting of his Dear.”

source: http://www.ferrum.edu/applit/studyg/West/htm/molvau.htm

More articles on murder ballads:

‘On the Banks of the Ohio’-an old murder ballad(Opens in a new browser tab)

Hang down your head Tom Dula(Opens in a new browser tab)