Pretty Polly- Aunt Molly Jackson (KY) 1937 Lomax
[From AFS 00823 A02 recording; Sept. 1935. "Aunt Molly" Jackson born in Clay County, Kentucky, in 1880, lived in Harlan County; recorded September, 1935 by Alan Lomax in NYC.
R. Matteson 2016]
Pretty Polly- Sung by Jackson, Aunt Molly Jackson, recorded by Lomax in 1935.
Oh where is Pretty Polly? Yonder she stands,
Where is Pretty Polly? Yonder she stands,
With rings on her fingers and lily-white hands.
She jumps on behind him and away they did ride
She jumps on behind him and away they did ride
Till they came to a grave and a spade lying by.
"Willie, oh Willie, I'm afraid of your ways,
"Willie, dear Willie, I'm afraid of your way,
I'm afraid you will lead my body astray."
Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, you're thinking just right,
Pretty Polly Pretty Polly, you're thinking just right,
I dug on your grave best part of last night.
She threw her arms around him and trembled with care[1],
She threw her arms around him and trembled with care,
"How can you kill a poor girl who loves you so dear?"
"There is no time to pause, there is no time to stand
No time to pause, there is no time to stand,"
He drew out his knife all in his right hand.
He stobbed her to the heart, and the blood it did flow,
He stobbed her to the heart, and the blood it did flow,
And into the grave pretty Polly did go.
He threw some sod over her and started to go home,
He threw some sod over her and started to go home,
Leaving no one but the birds for to mourn.
Farewell my darling, Pretty Polly, fare you well,
Farewell my darling, Pretty Polly, fare you well,
For killing Pretty Polly I'll send my soul to hell.
1 usually "fear"