Handsome Molly

Lyrics: Traditional/G.B.Grayson, Henry Whitter
Music: Traditional/G.B.Grayson, Henry Whitter

Played by Jerry Garcia with the Hart Valley Drifters in November 1962. Also rehearsed by John Dawson and Jerry Garcia in 1969. Thanks to Matt Schofield for the lyrics.

I wish I was in London
Or some other seaport town
Set my foot on a steamboat
And sail the ocean 'round

While sailing around the ocean
While sailing around the sea
I'd think of handsome Molly
Wherever she might be

Don't you remember, Molly
You gave me your right hand
Said that if ever you married
That I would be the man

Now you've broke your promise
Go home with whom you please
My poor heart is breaking
You're lying at your ease

Went to church last Sunday
She passed me on by
Knew her mind was changing
By the roving of her eye

Roving of her eye
Roving of her eye
Knew her mind was changing
By the roving of her eye

I wish I was in London
Or some other seaport town
Set my foot on a steamboat
And sail the ocean 'round

Sail around the ocean
Sail around the sea
Think of handsome Molly
Wherever she might be

Jerry Garcia Recordings
	Date	Album	Recorded By
	fall 1962	Folk Time	Hart Valley Drifters (note 1)

Notes
(1) also released on Before The Dead

The song is normally listed as "traditional" but the Hart Valley Drifters album credits it to Grayson and Whitter who first recorded it in 1927 with essentially the same lyrics but with an additional verse:

Her hair was black as a raven
Her eyes were black as coal
Her cheeks was like lillies
Out in the morning glow

Further Information
For more information on recordings see Matt Schofield's Grateful Dead Family Discography