Molly Dee

 

Written by John Stewart

 

Picture, if you will, a young college student in his late teens, perhaps 20, selling a song to one of the most popular entertainment acts in America at the time.  Not only do they feature it on an album, they actually derive the TITLE of the album from the lyrics.  Then, the album spends 8 weeks at the top of the Billboard charts.  Not only must that have made John's head spin, but the first royalty check he received was more than his father earned in a whole year at the time.*

Thus, the beginning of a great songwriting career for which we are all grateful.  Once you get the hang of the beginning, this is an easy song to play and lots of fun to sing. Go for it. 

*Borrowed liberally from Ben Blake's liner notes from “The Capitol Years”. 

‘Molly Dee’ - from the Capitol album “Here We Go Again” recorded in 1959; the first song recorded on an LP by the KT of John's compositions.  It is the opening song on the LP.  That LP received two Grammy nominations in 1960 for "Vocal Group" and "Folk Group” categories. 

Charlie & Art

 

 

Intro:

Play (E) chord, alternately pulling off and hammering on the notes on the D

& A strings

E--------------------------------------

B--------------------------------------

G--1-----------------------------------

D------2-pull off, then hammer on------

A------2-pull off, then hammer on------

E--------------------------------------

 

Repeat three times, then

(F) (E) (B7) (E) (F) (E) (B7) (E)

 

[For (F), play

E--------------------------------------

B--------------------------------------

G-------2------------------------------

D---------------3----------------------

A---------------3----------------------

E--------------------------------------

moving the fingers of the (E) all up one fret

to get a slightly dischordant form of (F).

Continue to use this (F) throughout the song.]

 

(E)Here we go, (A)'round again,

(E)Singing a song about (B7)Molly Dee.

(E)Far away, I know not (D)where,

(E)She's the girl who (B7)waits for (E)me.

 

I got a gal in (F)Tennessee,

(E)Sweetest little gal that you (B7)ever did see,

(E)Works all day in a (F)cotton mill,

She (E)makes her gin in a (B7)bathtub (E)still.

 

Well, here we go, (A)'round again,

(E)Singing a song about (B7)Molly Dee.

(E)Far away, I know not (D)where,

(E)She's the girl who (B7)waits for (E)me.

 

My true love's in (F)Memphis town,

(E)Pretty little thing named (B7)Sally Brown.

(E)Travels around on a (F)riverboat,

(E)Shares her room with a (B7)billy (E)goat!

 

Hey, here we go, (A)'round again,

(E)Singing a song about (B7)Molly Dee.

(E)Far away, I know not (D)where,

(E)She's the girl who (B7)waits for (E)me.

 

Spending my money, gonna (F)drink it away,

(E)I'll start saving on a(B7)nother day,

(E)Wasting my time in the (F)Silver Dollar,

(E)Pinch them girls just to (B7)hear 'em a-(E)holler.

 

Here we go, (A)'round again,

(E)Singing a song about (B7)Molly Dee.

(E)Far away, I know not (D)where,

(E)She's the girl who (B7)waits for (E)me.

 

Here we go, (A)'round again,

(E)Singing a song about (B7)Molly Dee.

(E)Far away, I know not (D)where,

(E)She's the girl who (B7)waits for (E)me.

 

She's the girl who (B7)waits for (E)me.

She's the girl who (B7) (hold)   for (E)me.

 

© John Stewart, All Rights Reserved

 

Charlie Woodward, janhauenstein@gmx.de & Art Faller

 

July 2005