Pretty Polly- Alma Price (KY) 1973 Boswell B
[From: Kentucky Folklore Record 19:3 (1973) pp.87-88 (version b) in A Song To Sing by George W. Boswell. The tune for version a (sung by Peggy Atkins) is given but the text is from Alma Price.
R. Matteson 2016]
Pretty Polly- sung by Alma Price
Oh it's Polly, pretty Polly, over yonder she stands,
Polly pretty Polly, over yonder she stands.
Gold rings on her fingers, her lily white hands.
"Oh if Polly, pretty Polly 'd come and go along with me;
Polly, pretty Polly, come and go along with me.
Before we get married some pleasure to see."
"My mind is to marry and never to part;
My mind is to marry and never to part.
For the first time I saw you, you wounded my heart."
He led her over hills and thru valleys so deep,
He led her over hills and thru valleys so deep,
Til at last pretty Polly was beginning to weep.
"Oh sweet Willie, little Willie, I'm afraid of your ways;
Willie, little Willie, I'm afraid of your ways;
The way you've been drinking you lead me astray."
"Oh, yes, Polly, pretty Polly, you are guessing that right;
Polly, pretty Polly, you are guessing that right;
I dug on your grave the biggest part of the night."
He took her on farther, and what did she find?
He took her on farther, and what did she find?
A new dug grave and a spade lying by.
He stabbed her thru the breast and that blood it did flow;
He stabbed her thru the breast and that blood it did flow;
And in to the grave pretty Polly did go.
He shoveled some dirt over her and turned to go home;
He shoveled some dirt over her and turned to go home;
Saying, "Polly, pretty Polly, no more you will roam."
Oh it's Willie, little Willie's got the devil to pay,
Willie, little Willie's got the devil to pay,
For murdering pretty Polly and running away.