Verse 1
Old Tom and Kate had run the pub
For longer than most knew
They’d poured the pints, they’d heard the songs
And watched the years pass through
But when they left this world behind
The village gathered round
And Molly stood behind the bar
Upon familiar ground
Verse 2
She was only one-and-twenty
With striking red-gold hair
The kind that caught the evening sun
And set a glow in there
She had her father’s steady ways
Her mother’s heart and smile
And folk would find a reason
Just to linger for a while
Chorus
Irish Molly, Irish Molly
Everyone knew her name
The farmers and the fishermen
Would all have said the same
She’d smile and serve and carry on
No matter what came through
And half the men in County Clare
Believed she smiled for them alone too
Verse 3
Now Paddy Malone was thirty-one
A regular through and through
He’d occupied the same bar stool
Since God knows when or who
The moment that he saw her there
His future seemed quite clear
He’d marry Irish Molly
Just as soon as she could hear
Verse 4
He brought her roses every week
As red as evening skies
Molly thanked him kindly
While serving chips and pies
Paddy left convinced himself
His chances had improved
While Molly simply placed the flowers
Where they slightly brightened rooms
Chorus
Irish Molly, Irish Molly
Everyone knew her name
Paddy thought each word she spoke
Was feeding his sweet flame
The whole pub saw what Molly saw
Though Paddy never knew
Irish Molly liked him well
Like many others too
Verse 5
Then came karaoke Friday
Paddy took the stage
Determined he would win her heart
And turn another page
He sang of love and moonlit nights
And hearts forever true
A dog outside began to howl
A second joined in too
Verse 6
The microphone let out a squeal
The speakers gave a groan
The barman begged for mercy
And covered up his ears alone
When Paddy finished, Molly clapped
And said, “Well done to you.”
Paddy spent the next six weeks
Thinking wedding bells were due
Chorus
Irish Molly, Irish Molly
Everyone knew her name
Paddy chased a thousand dreams
And every one the same
A thank-you here, a smile there
A compliment or two
And Paddy built a love affair
From things Molly always knew
Verse 7
He tried with poems and clever lines
And words he’d never read
He borrowed books from Father Flynn
And quoted them instead
Sometimes he mixed the verses up
And made the meanings wrong
Yet Molly listened patiently
As he carried on so long
Verse 8
The butcher gave him advice
The postman had some too
The blacksmith and the schoolmaster
All knew what he should do
The whole village joined the effort
To help his grand pursuit
Though privately they all agreed
The mission was quite moot
Final Chorus
Irish Molly, Irish Molly
Everyone knew her name
She carried on through grief and loss
And never sought for fame
She worked the bar her parents loved
And saw each hard day through
And everybody loved Irish Molly
Paddy Malone did too
Final Verse
The years rolled gently onward
As years are bound to do
And Paddy still sat dreaming
As old romantics do
One evening someone asked him
“Did you ever win her heart?”
Paddy smiled and raised his glass
“I nearly did…
A hundred times to start.”
Final Tag
Now if you visit County Clare
And step inside that door
You’ll hear old Paddy telling tales
Like twenty years before
And every time he reaches
The part where Molly smiled
The whole pub laughs because they know
He’s still that hopeful child.
Lyrics Michael Forty
Voice Michael Forty