Molly's Lily
Rose Polenzani Lyrics
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Put your saddle on tight.
You've a red, red runner
For your final flight.
You're my only sister,
But a price is a price,
And he's not going lower
Than my sister's life.
Would that I may go with you,
But a rule is a rule,
And the red, red rascal
Is no sister's fool.
In the Putnam meadow
Grows a poison lily,
If I were a smart girl,
I would take it with me.
So she's taken her dress up,
And she's tied back her hair
With a winsome ribbon
Such as never were,
And she looked as brazen
As the scalded sea,
When the sun rips its favors
Into morning's peace.
She's an auburn woman
On mahogany mare,
She was dressed full bloody
For the devil's despair.
And it was no lily
For his cardamom lips,
But for girl and filly,
And for hooves and hips.
All the plants in Putnam
Grow a venomous green.
It was milk and money
Made the meadows mean.
There she's taken her flower,
And she's borne it away,
Under nettled fingers
That she daren't display.
From the Ipswich river,
Riding easterly
To the black oak sapling,
Where three fences meet,
And she knows he's waiting,
And she's down from her horse,
And per their agreement,
She is walking backwards.
Cloven hoofprints pressing
In a ravenous reel,
It's a phantom tarries
At her heart and her heel.
And with each foot stepping,
There's a petal has gone
From a noxious blooming
To a maidenly tongue.
Did the devil take her?
Did the devil decide
On a red carnation
Or a red-blooded bride?
He's been up her ankle,
And he's taken his treat,
And he's eaten apples
Full of poison lily.
Satan wears a flower
Like a dandy heathen,
It's a fairer lily
Than the one that she gave him.
He's a rowdy rascal
With a hearty complexionâ€"â€"
It's the very color
Of a lily stamen.
"Molly's Lily" is a haunting ballad about a woman named Molly who has struck a deal with the devil. Her unnamed sister, who narrates the song, describes the scene as Molly prepares to ride her horse to meet the devil. Molly is dressed in a bold fashion, tied her hair back with a ribbon, and carries with her a "poison lily" from Putnam meadow. The devil is waiting for her at a black oak sapling where three fences meet, and she walks backwards towards him as they chat. As the devil takes his "treat," we are left unsure if Molly has actually been taken by the devil, or if the poisonous flower symbolizes the dark path she has taken.
Line by Line Meaning
Molly, you've got to
Put your saddle on tight.
Molly, you need to prepare yourself for the dangerous journey ahead by tightening your saddle.
You've a red, red runner
For your final flight.
The horse you will ride on this journey is strong and fast, but this will be your final journey.
You're my only sister,
But a price is a price,
And he's not going lower
Than my sister's life.
Even though you're my sister, I cannot stand in the way of the agreement I made with a dangerous man who is demanding your life in exchange for something valuable.
Would that I may go with you,
But a rule is a rule,
And the red, red rascal
Is no sister's fool.
I wish I could accompany you, but I cannot break the rule that the dangerous man has set. He is smart and cunning and cannot be fooled by anyone, even his own sister.
In the Putnam meadow
Grows a poison lily,
If I were a smart girl,
I would take it with me.
There is a lethal plant in the Putnam meadow that Molly should take with her to save her life if she is clever enough to identify it.
So she's taken her dress up,
And she's tied back her hair
With a winsome ribbon
Such as never were,
And she looked as brazen
As the scalded sea,
When the sun rips its favors
Into morning's peace.
Molly prepares for her journey by lifting her dress, tying her hair back with a beautiful ribbon, and looking as confident and fierce as the fiery sea at dawn.
She's an auburn woman
On mahogany mare,
She was dressed full bloody
For the devil's despair.
And it was no lily
For his cardamom lips,
But for girl and filly,
And for hooves and hips.
Molly is a striking woman riding on a strong horse, dressed provocatively to catch the attention of the devil. The poison lily is not just for the devil to consume, but also for Molly and her horse.
All the plants in Putnam
Grow a venomous green.
It was milk and money
Made the meadows mean.
There she's taken her flower,
And she's borne it away,
Under nettled fingers
That she daren't display.
The Putnam meadow is full of poisonous plants due to people's greed for money and power. Molly discreetly takes the poison lily and hides it under her fingers to avoid drawing attention.
From the Ipswich river,
Riding easterly
To the black oak sapling,
Where three fences meet,
And she knows he's waiting,
And she's down from her horse,
And per their agreement,
She is walking backwards.
Molly knows where she needs to go and dismounts her horse when she reaches the meeting point. She follows the agreement made with the devil by walking backwards towards him.
Cloven hoofprints pressing
In a ravenous reel,
It's a phantom tarries
At her heart and her heel.
And with each foot stepping,
There's a petal has gone
From a noxious blooming
To a maidenly tongue.
The devil's presence is felt by Molly in the form of cloven hoofprints around her, and she feels his grip on her heart and heel. As she walks towards him, a petal falls from the poison lily, changing from a toxic bloom to a symbol of her purity.
Did the devil take her?
Did the devil decide
On a red carnation
Or a red-blooded bride?
He's been up her ankle,
And he's taken his treat,
And he's eaten apples
Full of poison lily.
The devil has taken Molly, and it is unclear what he has done with her. He has touched her ankle and consumed the poison lily triumphantly.
Satan wears a flower
Like a dandy heathen,
It's a fairer lily
Than the one that she gave him.
He's a rowdy rascal
With a hearty complexion——
It's the very color
Of a lily stamen.
The devil appreciates the beauty of the poison lily and wears it like a fashionable accessory. He is boisterous and has a youthful appearance, which matches the color of the lily he now possesses.
Contributed by Brayden N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.