Pretty Polly- Marshall (TX) pre1932 Dobie A
[From Dobie; Tone the Bell Easy, 1932 version A.
R. Matteson 2014]
Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight,
(Child, No. 4)
A. "Pretty Polly," contributed by Mrs. J. C. Marshall, resembles the C version Child; called "May Colven"; only in the
F version, however is the lady named Polly.
1. He followed her up, he followed her down;
He followed her day by day;
She had no tongue to say no, no,
No faith to say yea, yea-
No faith to say yea, yea.
2. "Go bring me all of your father's gold,
And a part of your mother's fee,
And two of the best steeds from your father's
And married we will be, be, be-
And married we will be."
3. She mounted on the milk-white steed;
He rode the dapple gray;
They rode till they came to the red salt sea
Three hours before it was day, day, day-
Three hours before it was day.
4. "Oh, get you down, my pretty Polly;
Oh, get you down," said he.
"For six kings'daughters I've drown-ded here,
And you the seventh shall be, be, be-
And you the seventh shall be."
5. "Take off, take off those gay, fine clothes,
And hang on yonders tree;
They are too costly and too fine,
To rot in the sea, sea, sea-
To rot in the sea."
6. "Oh, turn your head, sir, and look around,
And look on yonders tree."
She picked him up so manfully,
And threw him in the sea, sea, sea-
And threw him in the sea.
7. "Oh, hand me your hand, my pretty Polly,
Oh, hand me your hand," said he,
"And I'll fulfill my promise to you,
And married we will be, be, be-
And married we will be."
8. "Lie there, lie there, you false young man,
Lie there in the place of me;
For six kings' daughters you've drown-ded here,
And you the seventh shall be, be, be-
And you the seventh shall be."
9. She mounted on the milk-white steed
And led the dapple gray;
She rode till she came to her own father's gate
One hour before it was day, day, day-
One hour before it was day.
10. "Oh, what's the matter, my pretty parrot?
Oh, what's the matter?" said she.
"Oh, what's the matter, my pretty parrot,
A-chattering so long before day, day, day-
A-chattering so long before day?"
11. "The old cat was at my cage door,
And said she would kill me,
And I was calling Pretty Polly
To drive the cat away, way, way-
To drive the cat away."
12. "Oh, hold your tongue, my pretty parrot,
And tell no tales on me;
Oh, hold your tongue, my pretty parrot
And tell no tales on me, me, me-
And tell no tales on me."