Polly's Love- Henry Burstow (Sus) 1893 Broadwood
[Published in the 1902 JFSS. Burstow's recollection follows. The is very similar to the broadside Polly's Love.
R. Matteson 2016]
Henry Burstow: Reminiscences of Horsham
In 1892-3 I lent my list of songs to Miss Lucy E. Broadwood (later Hon. Secretary and Editor to the Folk Song Society), and sang to her a large number of them, which she noted. Miss Broadwood left her old home, "Lyne," near Horsham, in 1893, and some eleven years later suggested to Dr. Vaughan Williams, a country neighbour, that he should come to see me. I sang to him such songs as he asked for, all of which he took down; some of them he recorded by his phonograph. This was the first time I had seen or heard one of these marvellous machines, and I was amazed beyond expression to hear my own songs thus repeated in my own voice. Many of these songs have been printed in the journal of the Folk Song Society, Part 4 of Vol. I., containing the largest number under one cover.
Polly's Love, or the Cruel Ship's Carpenter- sung by Henry Burstow of Horsham, Sussex; collected by Broadwood 1893 published in 1902.
In fair Worcester city and in Worcestershire,
A handsome young damsel she lived there,
A handsome young man he courted her to be his dear,
And he was by trade a ship carpenter.
Now the king wanted seamen to go on the sea,
That caused this young damsel to sigh and to say,
"O William, O William, don't you go to sea.
Remember the vows that you made to me."
It was early next morning before it was day,
He went to his Polly these words he did say,
O Polly, O Polly you must go with me
Before we are married, my friend for to see."
He led her through groves and valleys so deep
And caused this young damsel to sigh and to weep;
"O William, O William you have led me astray
On purpose my innocent life to betray."
It's true It's true these words he did rave
For all the long night I've been digging your grave
The grave being open, the spade standing by,
Which caused this young damsel to sigh and to say,
O William O William, O pardon my life,
I never will covet to be your wife
I will travel the world over to set you quite free,
O pardon O pardon, my baby and me.
No pardon I'll give, there's no time for to stand
So with that he had a knife in his hand
He stabbed her heart till the blood it did flow,
Then into the grave her fair body did throw.
He covered her up so safe and secure,
Thinking no one would find her he was sure
Then he went on board, to sail the world round
Before that the murder could ever be found,
It was early one morning before it was day,
The captain came up these words he did say,
There's a murderer on board, and has lately been done
Our ship is in mourning and cannot sail on.
Then up stepped one indeed it's not me
Then up stepped another, the same he did say
Then up starts young William to stamp and to swear,
"Indeed it's not me sir, I vow and declare."
As he was a turning from the captain with speed
He met his Polly which made his heart bleed
She stript him and tore him, she tore him in three,
Because he had murdered her baby and she.