Pretty Polly- Stanley Brothers (VA) 1950 REC
[From Stanley Brothers recording of "Pretty Polly" on November 3, 1950 for Art Slatherly on Columbia 4313. Also later version with Patty Loveless 1997.
Ralph remembered hearing his father and uncle, Jim Henry Stanley singing Pretty Polly when he was young. [Man of Constant Sorrow: My life and Times; Stanley, Dean.]
The Stanley Brothers 1950 recording skip both the “spade lying by” verse and any description of Polly's murder. Slatherly attributes Stanley Brothers version to B. F. Shelton (perhaps as the copyright holder), although the last verses are different.
R. Matteson 2016]
"Pretty Polly" from Stanley Brothers, 1950:
[banjo]
Oh Polly, Pretty Polly, would you take me unkind,
Polly, Pretty Polly, would you take me unkind,
Let me set beside you and tell you my mind.
Well my mind is to marry and never to part,
My mind is to marry and never to part,
The first time I saw you it wounded my heart.
[banjo]
Oh Polly Pretty Polly come go along with me,
Polly Pretty Polly come go along with me,
Before we get married some pleasures to see.
Oh he led her over mountains and valleys so deep
He led her over hills and valleys so deep
Pretty Polly mistrusted and then began to weep.
Oh Willie, Little Willie, I'm afraid to of your ways
Willie, Little Willie, I'm afraid of your ways
The way you've been rambling you'll lead me astray.
Oh Polly, Pretty Polly, your guess is about right
Polly, Pretty Polly, your guess is about right
I dug on your grave the biggest part of last night.
Oh she knelt down before him a pleading for her life
She knelt down before him a pleading for her life
Let me be a single girl if I can't be your wife.
[banjo]
Oh Polly, Pretty Polly that never can be
Polly, Pretty Polly that never can be
Your past recitation's been trouble to me.
Oh went down to the jailhouse and what did he say
He went down to the jailhouse and what did he say
I've killed Pretty Polly and trying to get away.
----------------
PRETTY POLLY- Ralph Stanley w/ Patty Loveless 1997
[banjo]
Oh Polly, Pretty Polly, would you take me unkind
Polly, Pretty Polly, would you take me unkind
Let me set beside you and tell you my mind
Well my mind is to marry and never to part
My mind is to marry and never to part
The first time I saw you it wounded my heart
[fiddle]
Oh Polly Pretty Polly come go along with me
Polly, Pretty Polly come go along with me
Before we get married some pleasure we'll see
Oh he led her over mountains and valleys so deep
He led her over mountains and valleys so deep
Pretty Polly mistrusted and then began to weep
Oh Willie, Little Willie, I'm 'fraid to of your ways
Willie, Little Willie, I'm 'fraid of your ways
The way you've been rambling you'll lead me astray.
"Oh Polly, Pretty Polly, your guess is about right
Polly, Pretty Polly, your guess is about right
I dug on your grave the biggest part of last night."
Well he led her little farther and what did she spy
He led her little farther and what did she spy
New dug grave with a spade lyin' by.
Then she knelt down before him a-pleadin' for her life
She knelt down before him, a-pleadin' for her life
Let me be a single girl if I can't be your wife.
Now Polly, pretty Polly that never can be
Polly, pretty Polly that never can be,
Your past reputation's been trouble to me.
Well he opened up her bosom as white as any snow
He opened up her bosom as white as any snow
He stabbed through the heart and the blood did overflow
Then he went down to the jailhouse and what did he say
He went to the jailhouse and what did he say,
"Killed pretty Polly and tryin' to get away."