Pretty Polly- Swetnam (KY-MS) pre1936 Hudson C
[From Hudson, Folksongs of Mississippi- 1936. For some reason Hudson did not bother to record the date. The first verses are not part of this ballad- the missing lines are easily filled in.
R. Matteson 2014]
C. [Pretty Polly] No local title. Copy from Mr. George F. Swetnam, University, from the singing of his mother, Mrs. Flora Stafford Swetnam, a native of Kentucky, but now residing at Vaiden. Closest to Child E, but omits stanzas corresponding to 1-4 of Child E.
1 He mounted the girl on the milk-white steed,
And himself on the dapple grey,
. . . .
Some hours before it was day, day, day,
Some hours before it was day.
2 . . . .
"For here I've drowned the king's six daughters,
And you the seventh shall be, be, be,
And you the seventh shall be.
3 "Take off, take off that silken gown,
And lay it upon my knee;
For it's too fine and costly
To be rotted in the salt, salt sea, sea, sea,
To be rotted in the salt, salt sea."
4. . . .
She caught so strong around his waist,
She threw him in the sea, sea, sea,
She threw him in the sea.
5 She mounted herself on the milk-white steed,
And leading the dapple grey,
She quickly returned to her father's house
One hour before it was day, day, day,
One hour before it was day.
6 Then up spoke the pretty parrot
From her cage where she did stay,
Saying, "What has been done, my pretty Polly,
That you're riding so long before day, day, day,
That you're riding so long before day?"
7 "Hush up, hush up, my pretty parrot,
And tell no tales on me,
And your cage shall be made of the yellow beaten gold,
With doors of ivory, -ry, -ry,
With doors of ivory."
8 Then up spoke her father's voice,
From the bed where he did lay,
Saying, "What has been done, my Pretty Parrot,
That you're talking so long before day, day, day,
That you're talking so long before day?"
9 "The cat he came unto my cage
And swore he'd murder me.
I called my pretty Polly
To chase the cat away, way, way,
To chase the cat away."