Pretty Polly- Dirk Powell (KY) pre1996 REC
[From Dirk Powell's 'If I Go Ten Thousand Miles' (Rounder CD 0384), 1996. The vocal is by Tim O'Brien. Powell's comments follow.
This seems to be an arrangement with new verses from his grandfather.
R. Matteson 2016]
Papaw told me he knew exactly where this murder had happened: in Greenup, Kentucky, along the Ohio River. No matter that folklorists trace this ballad’s roots to seventeenth-century England. It happened, and it happened right there.
Pretty Polly - from Dirk Powell, who learned the version from his grandfather.
Polly, Pretty Polly, 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 it is to marry and never to part
My mind it is to marry and never to part
The first time I saw you wounded my heart.
She jumped up behind him and away they did ride,
She jumped up behind him and away they did ride,
Leaving her loved ones and family behind.
He led her ’cross mountains and valleys so deep
He led her ’cross mountains and valleys so deep
Poor Pretty Polly could do nothing but weep.
William, sweet William I'm feared of your ways
William, sweet William I'm feared of your ways
I fear you will lead my poor body astray.
Polly, pretty Polly your guess is 'bout right
Polly, pretty Polly your guess is 'bout right
I was digging your grave the best part of last night.
They came to a clearing and what did she spy,
They came to a clearing and what did she spy,
Was a newly dug grave and a spade lying by.
She fell to her knees a-pleading for her life
She fell to her knees a-pleading for her life
Let me a single girl if I can't be your wife.
Polly, pretty Polly that never will be
Polly, pretty Polly that never will be
You've never brought nothing but trouble to me.
He stabbed her in the heart and her heart’s blood did flow
He stabbed her in the heart and her heart’s blood did flow
And into that grave Pretty Polly did go.
He threw some dirt over her and started for home
He threw some dirt over her and started for home
Leaving none but the turtledoves and the wild birds to moan.
William he traveled to far distant lands
William he traveled to far distant lands
And the farther he traveled the faster he ran.
All that he saw was the face of his love
All that he saw was the face of his love
And all that he heard was the cry of a dove.