“HANDSOME MOLLY” is a well worn bluegrass song. Scruggs and Flat are the best known performers but it’s been covered by lots of others. It’s a sad story of love lost. The part about sailing around the world on a steamship is an interesting and unusual spin for a song from the South
Handsome Molly
[A] Well, I wish I was in London,
Or some other seaport town
[E] I’d put my foot on a steamboat
I’d sail the ocean [A] ’round.
CH While sailing ’round the ocean,
While sailing ’round the sea
I’d think of handsome Molly
Wherever she might be.
Don’t you remember, Molly
You gave me your right hand?
You said whenever you’d marry
I would be the man. CH
But you broke your promise
Go with whom you please
My poor heart is aching
You are at your ease. CH
I go down to the river
Though everyone’s asleep
I think of handsome Molly
An’ I begin to weep. CH
So I wish I was in London,
Or some other seaport town
I’d put my foot on a steamboat
I’d sail the ocean ‘round. CH