Come all you young fathers that handle a gun,
Beware of night-rambling by the setting of the sun.
And beware of an accident that happened of late,
To young Molly Bawn, and sad was her fate.
She was going to her uncle's, when a shower came on.
She went under a green bush, the shower to shun.
With her white apron 'round her, he took her for a swan,
And he shot her and killed her by the setting of the sun.
He ran to his father, with his gun in his hand,
Crying, "Father, dear Father, I have shot Molly Bawn!
I have shot that fair damsel, I have taken the life
Of the one I intended to take as my wife."
"She was going to her uncle's, when a shower came on.
She went under a green bush, the shower to shun.
With her white apron 'round her, I took her for a swan,
And I shot her and killed her by the setting of the sun."
Oh, Jimmy, dear Jimmy, do not run away.
Do not leave your own country till your trial day.
Do not leave your own country till your trial come on,
For they never will hang you for the loss of that swan.
The night before Molly's funeral, her ghost did appear,
Crying, "Uncle, dear Uncle, let Jimmy go clear.
I was going to my uncle's when a shower came on.
I went under a green bush, the shower to shun.
With my white apron 'round me, he took me for a swan.
Won't you tell him he's forgiven, by his own Molly Bawn?"