Pretty Polly- Phoebe Parsons (WV) 1972 Bush III
[From M. Bush, Folk Songs of Central West Virginia III, 1975.
This version is very similar to John Hammonds 1925 recording and it's missing the 10th stanza which should be placed after the 9th here.
R. Matteson 2016]
Pretty Polly - sung by Phoebe Parsons of Calhoun County, WV, June, 1972.
1. when I lived in London, the city of Maryland town[1]
So when I lived in London, the city of Maryland town.
I met with a lady, her beauty never was found.
2. They call her Pretty Polly, a name I knew so well
They call her Pretty Polly a name I knew so well
Who loved everybody[2] and sent her soul to hell.
3. Polly, Pretty Polly way yonder she stands, [sim.]
With rings on her fingers, her lily white hands.
4 "Polly, Pretty Polly, come go along with me,
Before we get married and pleasure to see."
5. Led her over hills and dark valleys[2] so deep,
Polly got mistrustful, began for to weep.
6 "Willy, O Willy, I'm afraid of your ways,
The way you've been drinking means you'll lead me astray."
7 "Oh Willie, oh Willie I'm afraid of your ways,
The way you've been rambling to lead me astray."
8 "Polly, pretty Polly, your guessing just about right,
I dug on your grave over yonder last night.
9 She threw her arms around me and she began to cry,
"How can you kill a poor girl that loved you so true?"
10. I stabbed with a knife and that blood it did flow,
Over yonder in the grave poor Polly did go.
1. Cf. John Hammonds 1925
2. I loved of her body