Pretty Polly- Callaway (MS) pre1936 Hudson D
[Fragment from Hudson, Folksongs of Mississippi- 1936. For some reason Hudson did not bother to record the date. The first and end verses are not part of this ballad.
R. Matteson 2014]
D. "Pretty Polly." Copy from Miss Elizabeth Burdette, Lumberton, who had it from the singing of Mrs. A. F. Callaway, Oxford.
1 "Pull off that fine silk dress, Pretty Polly,
And wrap it round a stone,
For 'tis too fine and costly
To rot in the salt water foam, foam, foam,
To rot in the salt water foam.
2 "Pull off that fine gold ring, pretty Polly,
And hand it back to me,
For 'tis too fine and costly
To sink in the salt water sea, sea, sea,
To sink in the salt water sea."