I love Irish music.

Even when it’s sad, which it often is, there is something lovely and haunting about it.

Anyway, when I was little, we still used tape players.

Oh yes, those ancient things, tapes.  Not CDs (which are fast becoming antiques), not iPods, cassette tapes.

I lived in San Diego, so my parents did a lot of driving with me in the car, and I listened to books and music on tape.

My mom used to play these “We Sing” tapes.

Which were, in their essence, recordings of overly enthusiastic kids singing loud classic children’s songs.  I used to sing along, but there were only three songs I really liked.

My favorite song was about a sweet Irish fishmonger who died.  I know.  Sad right?

I never knew the song title, and the tape got lost so I soon forgot about it.

But yesterday, after nearly 13 years, I heard that sad, Irish song again.

The Deep Blue Sea, a British film starring Rachel Weisz and my future husband, Tom Hiddleston, tells the story of a woman (Rachel Weisz) in loveless marriage and her attempted suicide following her passionate affair with a handsome young RAF pilot (Tom Hiddleston).

Great film, but that’s beside the point.

Much of the film takes place in flashbacks, one of which is the protagonist, Hester, taking shelter from bombs raining down on London while a man sings a song called “Molly Malone.”

After 13 years, I heard it again and got so excited, singing along.

The song is told from the point of view of a man who met a fishmonger named Molly Malone.

Molly dies of a fever and the singer goes on to describe her ghost gliding through Dublin, still peddling fish.

“Molly Malone” is the unofficial song of Dublin.  There was a statue erected in its honor, and Molly Malone Day is June 13 in Ireland.

It’s a fantastic song, give it a listen.

Deep Blue Sea Version: