| AKA | Molly Riley Old Molly Riley |
| First Published | 1893 |
| Writer/composer | Words: James Curran, Music: Pat Rafferty, | Roud | RN30980 |
| Music Hall Performers | Pat Rafferty |
| Folk performances | Collected from the singing of: Stewart, Lucy; Scotland : Aberdeenshire; 1960 Dunn, George; England, West Midlands: 1971 |
From Sheet Music I'm lodging in a lodging-house That's kept by Mister Riley, A dacent man, so is his wife, The genial Mistress Riley. They've got a daughter, she's Al, Her name is Molly Riley, And I am mashed potatoes on Little Molly Riley. Oh, Molly Riley, I love you; Tell me, Molly Riley, does your heart beat true? Marry me, my darling, I'll die if you say no; And my ghost will come and haunt you, Molly Riley, O! He loves me as a son, he says, Affectionate old Riley ; He borrows cash he never pays, Also does Mistress Riley. The family lives at my expense, My tobacco's stolen by Riley; I stand it all—take no offence, For the love of Molly Riley. He's got about a dozen sons, Has good old Mister Riley, And they pay the rent with swords and guns In the home of Molly Riley; They pawn my clothes to buy their booze, In the home of Molly Riley; And I'd stand it all before I'd lose My darling Molly Riley.
A song from the repertoire of Pat Rafferty – a huge hit in the Halls and pantos of 1893/94. Such was the song’s popularity that it appeared in another Music Hall song by another artist – JW “Over” Rowley who sang On Monday she sings “Molly Riley oh!” (Written by JW Hall).
Molly Riley O! itself has been collected from the singing of Lucy Stewart a member of the important Scots traveller community based in Blairgowrie. Traditional singer George Dunn remembered a fragment of it and recalled seeing the words printed on “Lucky Bags” – paper bags containing sweets and small toys for children. Josephine Dougal recalled her family of expatriate Scots in Australia singing a version in which her brother’s name was substituted for that of Molly Riley.
You can hear Lucy Stewart sing the chorus on the excellent Tobar an Dualchais/ Kist o Riches site
Sources:
- VWML entry
- Kilgarrif Sing Us
- Lyrics and Sheet Music: Bodleian Library Oxford
- WorldCat entry
- Sleevenotes for George Dunn: Chainmaker (MTCD317-8)
- Josephine Dougal (2011) “Popular Scottish Song Traditions at Home (and Away) ” Folklore Vol.122 (3), p.283-307
- JW Rowley’s On Monday she sings Molly Riley Oh! Music Hall and Theatre review, 27 March 1896. British Newspaper Archive (subscription required)
Last Updated on July 18, 2023 by John Baxter | Published: July 18, 2023
