Will Oldham (born 24 December 1970, Louisville, Kentucky) is an American si… Read Full Bio ↴Will Oldham (born 24 December 1970, Louisville, Kentucky) is an American singer-songwriter, actor, and musician. His music is often (perhaps inappropriately) placed under the genre of "alt-country". Oldham has recorded under many names, including Palace, Palace Music, Palace Brothers, and Bonnie Billy. He often plays and records with other musicians, including David Pajo and his brothers Ned and Paul Oldham, but is generally the chief creator of the music. He has also been involved in musical projects and bands such as Amalgamated Sons of Rest, The Anomoanon, The Boxhead Ensemble, Tortoise, and The Sundowners as well as releasing his first solo album in 1993. Oldham has said that the Bonnie 'Prince' Billy moniker has many references. These include 'Bonnie' Prince Charlie, an 18th century Jacobite; Billy the Kid, the 19th century American outlaw also known as William Bonney; and the American singer Nat King Cole. He has also appeared in several films, such as the 1987 film Matewan and most recently in Old Joy (released in late 2006). He is also the photographer of the cover image of the slint album Spiderland.

Molly Bawn
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Come all you young fowlers
That handle a gun
Beware of night rambling
By the setting of the sun

And beware of an accident
That happened of late
To one Molly Bawn

And sad was her fate

She was going to her uncle's
When a shower came on
She went under a green bush
The shower to shun

Her white apron around her
He took her for a swan
And he shot her and killed her
By the setting of the sun

He went home to his father's
With his gun in his hand
Crying "Father dear father
I have shot Molly Bawn.

"I have shot that fair damsel
I have taken the life
Of the one I intended
To take as my wife.

"She was going to her uncle's
When a shower came on
She went under a green bush
Yeah, the shower to shun.

"With her white apron around her
I took her for a swan
And I shot her and killed her
By the setting of the sun."

Well Jimmy dear Jimmy
Do not run away
Do not leave your own country
Before your trial day.

Do not leave your own country
Till your trial comes on
For they never will hang you
For the killing of a swan.

The night before Molly's funeral
Her ghost did appear
Crying "Uncle dear uncle
Let Jimmy go clear.

"I was going to my uncle's
When a shower came on
I went under a green bush
The shower to shun.

"With my white apron around me
He took me for a swan
Won't you tell him he's forgiven
By his old Molly Bawn."

All the girls of this country
They are all glad we know
To see Molly Bawn
Brought down so low

Take all those fair damsels
Put them all in one row

Her beauty would outshine them
Like a mountain of snow.

Overall Meaning

The song "Molly Bawn" by Bonnie 'Prince' Billy tells the story of a tragic accident that occurred to a young woman by the name of Molly Bawn. The song is cautionary tale about the dangers of night rambling while carrying a gun. Molly Bawn was caught in a shower of rain and sought shelter under a green bush. Unfortunately, a young man who was out hunting mistook her white apron for a swan and shot her, causing her death. The young man went home and confessed to his father that he had accidentally shot Molly Bawn. He was advised by his father not to leave the country until his trial date.

The night before Molly's funeral, her ghost appeared to her uncle asking for forgiveness for the young man who had mistakenly shot her. Her ghost told her uncle to let Jimmy go clear and to tell him that he was forgiven. The song ends with a reflection on Molly Bawn's beauty and how her tragic fate brought all the girls of the country together.

Overall, the song is a powerful cautionary tale that emphasizes the importance of being careful and mindful of the potential dangers that can arise when handling a gun.

Line by Line Meaning

Come all you young fowlers That handle a gun Beware of night rambling By the setting of the sun
You youthful hunters, who are familiar with guns, be cautious when walking at night, starting from sunset.

And beware of an accident That happened of late To one Molly Bawn And sad was her fate
Be warned of the recent tragedy that occurred to Molly Bawn which was a sorrowful fate.

She was going to her uncle's When a shower came on She went under a green bush The shower to shun
While Molly was on her way to her uncle's, it began to rain, and she sought shelter under a green bush.

Her white apron around her He took her for a swan And he shot her and killed her By the setting of the sun
Sadly, the shooter thought she was a swan - since her white apron was visible from a distance - and unintentionally killed her before the sun went down.

He went home to his father's With his gun in his hand Crying "Father dear father I have shot Molly Bawn.
Regrettably, he went back to his father's house carrying his weapon and crying to him about the terrible killing of Molly Bawn.

"I have shot that fair damsel I have taken the life Of the one I intended To take as my wife.
The shooter was so full of remorse and confessed that he took the life of the lady he had wanted to marry.

"She was going to her uncle's When a shower came on She went under a green bush Yeah, the shower to shun.
He added that she was seeking refuge from the rainfall under the same green bush, en route to her uncle's.

"With her white apron around her I took her for a swan And I shot her and killed her By the setting of the sun."
Again, he reiterates that because her white apron was visible from afar, he mistakenly took her for a swan and fired his gun before sunset.

Well Jimmy dear Jimmy Do not run away Do not leave your own country Before your trial day.
Jimmy is strongly urged not to flee or attempt to leave the country before the official trial day.

Do not leave your own country Till your trial comes on For they never will hang you For the killing of a swan.
The advice Jimmy received included staying put, since he would not be sentenced to death for swan hunting.

The night before Molly's funeral Her ghost did appear Crying "Uncle dear uncle Let Jimmy go clear.
On the night before Molly's burial, her apparition appeared and asked her uncle to exonerate Jimmy.

"I was going to my uncle's When a shower came on I went under a green bush The shower to shun.
Molly's ghost retold the details of her encounter with the shooter and reiterated that she had stopped under the green bush to avoid the shower while heading to see her uncle.

"With my white apron around me He took me for a swan Won't you tell him he's forgiven By his old Molly Bawn."
Moreover, Molly's ghost revealed that due to the white apron she had worn, the shooter mistook her for a swan and out of love for him, she requested that he be pardoned.

All the girls of this country They are all glad we know To see Molly Bawn Brought down so low
All of the ladies in the country are pleased to witness the downfall of Molly Bawn.

Take all those fair damsels Put them all in one row Her beauty would outshine them Like a mountain of snow.
It is said that if you were to line up all the beautiful women in the country, Molly Bawn's charm would outshine them all, just like the brightness of a massive snow-covered mountaintop.

Contributed by Liliana P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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