Sweet Molly Mavis

By Wendy Jones

 

 

When sweet Molly Mavis stares out to the sea,

Is she dreaming of Jimmy or thinking of me?

Why Jimmy is gone now she never will learn,

But she knows that our Jimmy will never return.

 

She doesn’t know how our Jimmy was lost,

Fell from that trawler, was in the sea tossed.

She carried his baby did sweet Molly Mavis, 

Oh but that girl, how she loved Jimmy Davis.

 

Now Jimmy grew up in the house next to me,

We played and we partied and we fished in the sea.

Handsome and hearty, most girls from our town,

Knew our young Jimmy would ne’er settle down.

 

When Sweet Molly Mavis so young and so pure,

Caught Jimmy’s eye with her innocent allure,

I couldn’t convince him to let Molly be,

That Molly was more suited to courting with me,

 

Jimmy was charming and Molly loved him true,

She fell for his lies, thought that he loved her too.

Sweet Molly she wanted to walk down the aisle

So Jimmy moved slowly, courted her with guile. 

 

One day my friend Jimmy a few pints was drinkin’,

Was way too far gone then for sensible thinkin’.

When Molly said no well he just wouldn’t heed,

Since Molly loved Jimmy she finally agreed.

 

Now Jimmy had no want for a wife and some babies,

He’d a need for the good life, for fishin’ and the ladies.

But I was a man who’d give Molly my all,

I loved Molly Mavis, from the start I did fall. 

 

When we were out in a big blowing gale,

My best friend Jimmy he told me a tale.

Of another he wanted, she was not Molly Mavis,

He was cruel and cold-hearted was our Jimmy Davis. 

 

He laughed as he hollered o’er the wind and the sea,

“I’m leaving Molly Mavis, no good husband will I be!”

I dragged on the lines saw the seas come up high,

I took my chance, saw that Jimmy must die. 

 

Sweet Molly Mavis had eyes only for him,

As long as he lived my chances were dim. 

I shoved Jimmy Davis and o’er he did fall,

When he was a goner I gave out the call. 

 

“Our Jimmy’s gone over!” I hollered to the crew,

And with great gusto the buoy I threw,

The captain and the men tried with all of their might

To rescue our Jimmy through the long stormy night. 

 

Hard as they tried though, their trouble was in vain,

My best friend Jimmy in his coffin was lain, 

I knew I must linger, my time I must bide. 

Sweet Molly Mavis she cried and she cried.

 

When sweet Molly Mavis stares out to the sea,

Is she dreaming of Jimmy or thinking of me?

Why Jimmy is gone now she never will learn,

But she knows that our Jimmy will never return.

 

She’ll never know how her Jimmy was lost,

Fell from that trawler, was in the sea tossed.

I never told her that Jimmy planned to leave,

So for ages and ages she sat to grieve.

 

When she had Jimmy’s baby oh how she did weep,

That bonny wee baby his memory did keep.

But I stayed by my Molly to comfort and care,

My deepest feelings I still couldn’t share. 

 

One cold autumn evening when the seas crashed and tossed

I couldn’t wait any longer, had to ask at any cost.

Even though Molly Mavis for Jimmy still pined,

I asked my sweet Molly, “Would she be mine?” 

 

When sweet Molly Mavis stares out to the sea,

Is she dreaming of Jimmy or thinking of me?

Why Jimmy is gone now she never will learn,

But she knows that our Jimmy will never return.

 

She’ll never know how her Jimmy was lost,

Fell from that trawler, was in the sea tossed.

I never told her that Jimmy planned to leave,

So for ages and ages she sat to grieve.

 

When she had Jimmy’s baby oh how she did weep,

That bonny wee baby his memory did keep.

But I stayed by my Molly to comfort and care,

My deepest feelings I still couldn’t share. 

 

One cold autumn evening when the seas crashed and tossed

I couldn’t wait any longer, had to ask at any cost.

Even though Molly Mavis for Jimmy still pined,

I asked my sweet Molly, “Would she be mine?” 

 

Molly’s been my wife now for many a good year

And still I have to wonder, still I have to fear.

When she sits by the window and stares out to sea

Is she dreaming of Jimmy or thinking of me. 

 

When Sweet Molly Mavis stares out to the sea

Is she dreaming of Jimmy or thinking of me?

When Sweet Molly Mavis stares out to the sea

Is she dreaming of Jimmy or thinking of me?