My Irish Molly O chords

The Dublin City Ramblers

Song Key: G Major

Time Signature: 4/4

Tempo: 108 bpm


Standard Guitar Tuning: E A D G B e

Skill Level: Beginner (see charts below for open chord voicing of Bm7 and Gmaj7)

Chords: G, Em, Am, A7, D, D7, Bm7, B7, Gmaj7

Play-Along Video
R-H Chord Charts Chord Chart Legend
G Major Em Am D Major D7 A7 Bm7 barre chord Bm7 B7 Gmaj7 Gmaj7-V2
L-H Chord Charts Lefties Chord Chart Legend
G Major-LH Em-LH Am-LH D Major-LH D7-LH A7-LH Bm7 barre chord-LH Bm7-LH B7-LH Gmaj7-LH Gmaj7-V2-LH
Speed: x0.1

My Irish Molly O

Song Key is highlighted - Transpose to any other key
                Em                  G      D7      G
Intro: 4/4 |          |     %    |     -      |         |

   Em                                              D        Em
1. Mol-ly dear and did you hear    The news that's go-in’ a-round
   Em                                            A7           D7
   Down in the cor-ner of my  heart    A lov-ing place you’ve found
       Em                                      D        Em
   And ev-ery time I gaze in-to    Your I-rish eyes are blue
                                  Bm7       Am      B7      Em     D7
   They seem to whis-per darl-in’ boy    My love is all for you    Oh

        G                Gmaj7     G                  Am
Chorus: Mol-ly my I-rish Mol-ly    My sweet a-cush-la dear
        B7                 Em                    A7                  D
        I'm fair-ly off my trol-ley    My I-rish Mol-ly when you are near
        G                       D                                   B7 
        Spring-time you know is ring time    Come dear now don't be slow
        Em
        Change your name, go on be game    Be-gor-ra and I’ll do the same
        G         D7     G
        My I-rish Mol-ly O

             Em                  G      D7      G
Instr: |           |     %    |     -      |         |
 
    Em                                           D      Em
 2. Mol-ly dear and did you hear    I furn-ished up the flat
    Em                                           A7              D7
    Three lit-tle co-sy rooms with bath    And a wel-come on the mat
         Em                                               D      Em
    It's five pounds down and two a week    We'll soon be out of debt
                                    Bm7         Am          B7      Em    D7
    It's all com-plete ex-cept they have-n't    Brought the crad-le yet   Oh

        G                Gmaj7     G                  Am
Chorus: Mol-ly my I-rish Mol-ly    My sweet a-cush-la dear
        B7                 Em                    A7                  D
        I'm fair-ly off my trol-ley    My I-rish Mol-ly when you are near
        G                       D                                   B7
        Spring-time you know is ring time    Come dear now don't be slow
        Em
        Change your name, go on be game    Be-gor-ra and I’ll do the same
        G         D7     G
        My I-rish Mol-ly O

Chorus: Instrumental

   Em                                           D           Em
3. Mol-ly dear and did you hear    What all the neigh-bours say
     Em                                                A7       D7
   A-bout the hund-red sove-reigns    You have safe-ly stowed a-way
        Em                                        D        Em
   They say that's why I love ya    Ah but Mol-ly that's a shame
                            Bm7         Am       B7       Em      D7
   If you had on-ly nine-ty nine    I'd love you just the same    Oh

        G                Gmaj7     G                  Am
Chorus: Mol-ly my I-rish Mol-ly    My sweet a-cush-la dear
        B7                 Em                    A7                  D
        I'm fair-ly off my trol-ley    My I-rish Mol-ly when you are near
        G                       D                                   B7
        Spring-time you know is ring time    Come dear now don't be slow
        Em
        Change your name, go on be game    Be-gor-ra and I’ll do the same
        G         D7     G
        My I-rish Mol-ly O

            Em                  G      D7      G
Outro: |          |     %    |     -      |         |

Arrangement Details:

  • Key Signature: G Major – 1 sharp (F#)
  • Time Signature: 4/4 — Four quarter-note beats per measure
  • Tempo: Moderately with a 'slow-down' at the end of each verse going into each chorus. We call it 'poetic license', and it works well here.
  • Metronome: ♩ = 108
  • Voice Range: Bb3 – C5
  • Form/Structure: Intro – (Verse - Chorus - Instr) x2 - Verse - Chorus – Outro
🎸 Beginner Guitarists – Tackling B7, Bm7, and Gmaj7
  • The trickiest chords in this arrangement are B7, Bm7, and Gmaj7. Open voicings for these chords are included in the charts.
  • B7 and Bm7 are almost identical:
    • B7 uses the first finger.
    • Bm7 simply omits the first finger, making it easier to play.
🎸 Easy Gmaj7 Transition
At the start of every chorus, you can move smoothly from G to Gmaj7 with this trick:
  • G chord: Play using fingers 2, 3, and 4 (middle, ring, and pinky).
  • Gmaj7 chord: Pretend you’re forming a G7, but instead of placing your first finger on the 1st string, 1st fret, place it on the 1st string, 2nd fret. 🥳

Song Details:

The Ferryman Album Cover
Album Cover
  • Composer: Jean Schwartz
  • Lyricist: William Jerome
  • Date: circa 1905
  • Lyrics Begin: Molly dear and did you hear the news that's goin' around,
  • Genre: Irish Folk Song
  • Featured Artists: The Dublin City Ramblers
  • Album: The Ferryman
    Released: 1983
    Country: Ireland
    Folrmat: Vinyl, LP, Album
    Label: Dolphin Records
The Dublin City Ramblers
The Dublin City Ramblers
Dublin City Ramblers

The Dublin City Ramblers were formed in 1970. Band members consisted of Patsy Watchorn, Mick Crotty, Sean McGuiness, and Kevin Gerahty. In 1972 Mick and Kevin left the band, and were replaced by Philip McCaffrey on fiddle, and Kevin Molloy on guitar and vocals. It was during this time, the band scored a Top 10 hit with their album, A Nation Once Again.

During the 80's, the band went on to record many famous hits including, The Rare Ould Times, John O'Dreams, and Wind in the Willows. In the late 80's, Philip and Kevin left the band, making way for Paddy Sweeney from The Barleycorn.

In 1992, Shay Kavanagh joined the band, and this line-up continued until 1995. Patsy Watchorn's left the band in 1995 to pursue a solo career and in 2005, he joined The Dubliners, taking the place of the great Paddy Reilly.

In 2002 Paddy and Shay left the band, and since then there has been an array of members joining and leaving the band.

In the last decade, The Dublin City Ramblers have continued to tour as a 3 piece with Sean McGuinness, the only existing original member.
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