Irish Songs

Molly Malone (Cockles and Muscles) - Chords, Lyrics and Origins

Origins

Molly Malone, or, as it is sometimes known, "Cockles and Muscles", is probably not a traditional song. There is no record of it before the late nineteenth century - it doesn't appear in collections of traditional Irish ballads. More likely, it has its origins in the music hall or perhaps as a parlor song. The name 'Molly', by the way, is short for Margaret or Mary. There were lots of Molly Malones in Dublin, but no links from any of them to the song.

However, if you want to read a good yarn about Molly Malone, see this website.

Click below to play Molly Malone (Cockles and Muscles).

acousticmusicarchive · Molly Malone

Chords

Capo at 2nd Fret

     C    Am
In Dublin's fair city

                   Dm7            G7
Where the girls are so pretty

   C    A7        Dm7         G7
I first set my eyes upon Molly Malone

C               Am7
She wheeled her wheelbarrow

   Dm7    G7
Through the streets broad and narrow,

   C    A7             Dm7   G7 C
Singing, "cockles and muscles - alive, alive-o".

    C                Am
"Alive, alive-o,

   Dm7    G7
Alive, alive-o."

         C               A7
Singing, "cockles and muscles,

   Dm7 G7 C
Alive, alive-o."

       C    Am
She was a fishmonger

        Dm7                G7
And sure 'twas no wonder

       C     A7          Dm7        G7
For so were her mother and father before.

    C                 Am7
They wheeled their wheelbarrows

   Dm7    G7
Through the streets broad and narrow,

   C    A7             Dm7   G7 C
Singing, "cockles and muscles - alive, alive-o".

    C                Am
"Alive, alive-o,

   Dm7    G7
Alive, alive-o."

         C               A7
Singing, "cockles and muscles,

   Dm7 G7 C
Alive, alive-o."

        C Am
She died of a fever

         Dm7               G7
And no-one could save her,

        C       A7            Dm7        G7
And that was the end of sweet Molly Malone,

        C              Am7
But her ghost wheels her barrow

   Dm7    G7
Through the streets broad and narrow,

   C    A7             Dm7   G7 C
Singing, "cockles and muscles - alive, alive-o".

    C                Am
"Alive, alive-o,

   Dm7    G7
Alive, alive-o."

         C               A7
Singing, "cockles and muscles,

   Dm7 G7 C
Alive, alive-o."

C                Am
"Alive, alive-o,

   Dm7    G7
Alive, alive-o."

         C               A7
Singing, "cockles and muscles,

   Dm7 G7 C
Alive, alive-o."

Lyrics

In Dublin's fair city,
Where the girls are so pretty,
I first set my eyes upon Molly Malone.
She wheeled her wheelbarrow
Through the streets broad and narrow,
Singing, "cockles and muscles - alive, alive-o".

"Alive, alive-o,
Alive, alive-o."
Singing, "cockles and muscles,
Alive, alive-o."

She was a fishmonger,
And sure 'twas no wonder,
For so were her mother and father before.
They wheeled their wheelbarrows
Through the streets broad and narrow,
Singing, "cockles and muscles - alive, alive-o".

"Alive, alive-o,
Alive, alive-o."
Singing, "cockles and muscles,
Alive, alive-o."

She died of a fever,
And no-one could save her,
And that was the end of sweet Molly Malone,
But her ghost wheels her barrow
Through the streets broad and narrow,
Singing, "cockles and muscles - alive, alive-o".

"Alive, alive-o,
Alive, alive-o."
Singing, "cockles and muscles,
Alive, alive-o."