Pretty Polly- Hannah Garren (MO) 1927 Randolph A
[From Ozark Folksongs II, 1947 by Randolph.
His notes follow.
Randolph spells the broadside "The Gaspard Tragedy" which is Mackenzie's spelling. The date for the William Chapman is about 30 years later and Combs' version although titled "The Gosport Tragedy" is just a version of Pretty Polly.
R. Matteson 2016]
153. PRETTY POLLY
"Pretty Polly" is a condensation of "The Gaspard Tragedy," a long British ballad that dates at least to the middle of the eighteenth century (Ebsworth, Roxburghe Ballads, 1899 VIII, pp. 143, 173). see Kittregge JAFL 20, 1907, p. 261) for references.
American texts have been reported by Campbell and Sharp (English Folk songs from the southern Appalachian:
1917, No. 39), Mackenzie (Quest of the Ballad, 1919, p. 55; Cox (Folk-Songs of the South, 1925 p.308), Kincaid (My Favorite Mountain Ballads, 1928, p.35); Niles (More songs of the Hill Folk, 1936, pp. 2-3), and Scarborough (A Song Catcher in Southern Mountains, 1937 pp. 128-134). Cox (Traditional Ballads, 1939, p. 62) reports a West Virginia text with a reference to one Polly Aldridge, murdered by William Chapman near Warfield, Ky, about 1820
"The Gosport Tragedy" is given by Combs (Folk-Song from the Kentucky Highlands" 1939, pp.35-37), and "Pretty Polly" by Brewster (Ballads and Songs of Indiana, 1940, pp. 298-299. Compare also the phonograph record, by Dock Boggs (Brunswick 132) and B. F. Shelton (Victor 35538).
A. Pretty Polly. Contributed by Miss Hannah Garren of Stella, Mo., Apr. 13, 1927.
Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly oh come go with me,
Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly oh come go with me,
Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly oh come go with me,
Today we'll get married, some pleasure to see.
They went on a piece further an' there they did stop,
They went on a piece further an' there they did stop,
They went on a piece further an' there she did sigh,
A grave bein' dug an' the pick lyin' by.
Dear Willie, dear Willie, I fear from your care,
Dear Willie, dear Willie, I fear from your care,
Dear Willie, dear Willie, I fear from your care,
I'm afraid you are goin' to lead me astray.
Pretty Polly, pretty Polly, you're guessin' just right,
Pretty Polly, pretty Polly, you're guessin' just right,
Pretty Polly, pretty Polly, you're guessin' just right,
For the whole of last night I was diggin' your grave.
His knife bein' drawn an' all in his right hand,
His knife bein' drawn an' all i\ his right hand,
His knife bein' drawn an' all in his right hand,
He stobbed her to the heart an' the blood it did flow.
The blood it did flow an' the blood it did flow,
The blood it did flow an' the blood it did flow,
The blood it did flow an' the blood it did flow,
He throwed her in the grave an' back home he did go.