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Pretty Polly/Gosport Tragedy/Cruel Ship's Carpenter
Pretty Polly; Painting by Richard L. Matteson Jr. C 2009
Old-Time, Song & Breakdown
ARTIST: from Jim Howard; Kentucky.
Watch David Holt: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIA2D0jfF6Q
CATEGORY: Fiddle and Instrumental Tunes DATE: One source states: Gosport Tragedy was popular in England and colonies early 1700s; Printed source of Cruel Ship's Carpenter dates to 1767 (Journal from the Vaughn).
RECORDING INFO:
Estil C. Ball, "Pretty Polly" (on LomaxCD1701, LomaxCD1705); "Pretty Polly" (AFS, 1941; on LCTreas)
Frank Bode, "Pretty Polly" (on FBode1)
Dock Boggs, "Pretty Polly" (Brunswick 132A, 1927); (on Boggs1, BoggsCD1)
Coon Creek Girls, "Pretty Polly" (Vocalion 04659, 1939; Perfect 16102, 1935?)
Bill Cornett ,"Pretty Polly" (on MMOKCD)
Cranford & Thompson, "Pretty Polly" (Melotone 45092, 1935)
John Hammond, "Purty Polly" (Challenge 168, 1927)
Lester McFarland & Robert Gardner, "Pretty Polly" (Brunswick 116, 1927)
Ivor Melton & band, "Pretty Polly" (on Persis1)
Pleaz Mobley, "Pretty Polly" (on JThomas01)
New Lost City Ramblers, "Pretty Polly" (on NLCR13)
Jean Ritchie, "Pretty Polly" (on RitchieWatson1, RitchieWatsonCD1)
Sauceman Brothers, "Pretty Polly" (Rich-R-Tone 457, n.d.)
Pete Seeger, "Pretty Polly" (on PeteSeeger16)
Lee Sexton, "Pretty Polly" (on MMOKCD)
B. F. Shelton "Pretty Polly" (Victor 35838, 1927; on BefBlues1)
Stanley Brothers, "Pretty Polly" (Columbia 20770, 1951)
Pete Steele, "Pretty Polly" (AFS 1587/1702, 1938; on PSteele01, KMM)
Turner & Parkins, "Pretty Polly" (Superior 2635, 1931)
Jack Wallin, "Pretty Polly" (on Wallins1)
Shanachie 6040, Gerry Milnes & Lorraine Lee Hammond – “Hell Up Coal Holler” (1999). Tradition Records TLP 1007, Hobart Smith ‑ "Instrumental Music of the Southern Appalachians" (1956).
RELATED TO: Gosport Tragedy; Cruel Ship's Carpenter
OTHER NAMES: Pretty Molly; Dying Polly; Oh Polly; Gosport Tragedy
SOURCES: Ceolas; Folk Index; Traditional Ballad Index; Mudcat
Randolph 153, "Pretty Polly" (2 texts plus an excerpt, 1 tune)
BrownII 64, "The Gosport Tragedy" (3 texts plus 1 excerpt and mention of 1 more; Laws lists the "A" text as P36A, and the rest as P36B, but "D" and probably "C" are "Pretty Polly")
Brewster 64, "Pretty Polly" (1 text plus a fragment)
Leach, pp. 698-700, "The Gosport Tragedy" (2 texts, but only the second goes with this piece; the first is, obviously, "The Gosport Tragedy")
Wyman-Brockway I, p. 79, "Pretty Polly" (1 text, 1 tune)
Wyman-Brockway II, p. 110, "Pretty Polly" (1 text, 1 tune)
Fuson, pp. 69-70, "Pretty Polly" (1 text)
McNeil-SFB1, pp. 140-141, "Pretty Polly" (1 text, 1 tune)
JHCox 89, "Come, Pretty Polly" (3 texts, 1 tune)
JHCoxIIA, #17A-C, pp. 73-78, "Pretty Polly," "Come, Polly, Pretty Polly" (2 texts plus an excerpt, 2 tunes; the "A" text is the full "Cruel Ship's Carpenter" version; "B" is the short "Pretty Polly (II)"; the "C" fragment is too short to tell but has lyrics more typical of the latter)
MHenry-Appalachians, pp. 53-54, "" (1 text, very short even by the standards of this worn-down song)
Scarborough-SongCatcher, pp. 128-134, collectively titled "The Cruel Ship's Carpenter" but with individual titles "Pretty Polly," "Dying Polly," "Pretty Polly," "Pretty Polly," "Pretty Polly," "Oh, Polly!" (6 texts; 5 tunes on pp. 395-398; of these only the "C" text has a ghost; in "D" and "E" there is no ghost but Willie's ship sinks; these presumably should file with Laws P36, while "A," B," and "F" go here)
Lomax-FSUSA 84, "Pretty Polly" (1 text, 1 tune)
Darling-NAS, pp. 143-144, "Pretty Polly" (1 text)
Silber-FSWB, p. 227, "Pretty Polly" (1 text)
NOTES: Old‑Time, Air. Paul Clayton says the song was derived from an English broadside called "The Cruel Ship's Carpenter" or "Gosport Tragedy" in American tradition Polly is led over hills and deep valleys until finally murdered. Gerry Milnes calls it a “time-worn chestnut,” widely sung and played. The American version's plot is: Willie urges Polly to go riding with him "some pleasure to see" before they get married. Although she is "afraid of his ways," she comes, only to find her new-dug grave awaiting her. Willie kills and buries her and heads home (or out to sea) while the wild bird mourn.
"The Cruel Ship's Carpenter" dates back to England in 1767 found in a Journal from the Vaughn. The basic plot is: The carpenter gets the girl pregnant. They meet, allegedly to plan their wedding. He announces he spent the night digging her grave, then murders her. He flees to sea; her ghost follows to demand justice. His crime is revealed, and the man dies
Pretty Polly is a shortened form of "The Gosport Tragedy." Although no clear line between the two can be drawn "The Gosport Tragedy" includes the ghost and "Pretty Polly" omits it. Many if not most American versions are probably traceable back to B. F. Shelton's recording, which was enormously (and deservedly) popular.
According to J. M. Jarrell of Wayne Co., WV, cited by J. B. Cox in "Traditional Ballads Mainly From West Virginia," in the early 19th century one Polly Aldridge was murdered by William Chapman, who was convicted and executed in Martin Co., KY, and this ballad was being sung about the killing c. 1850.
Bluegrass recordings by Raph Stanley (1951 Stanley Brothers) and recently Patty Loveless with Ralph Stanley have kept this murder ballad popular in bluegrass circles. Some Stanley versions including a live version on Youtube omit the stabbing verse, I presume, as an attempt to make the song politically correct.
"Pretty Polly" from Jim Howard:
PRETTY POLLY (Traditional) Jim Howard Version
Rec. by one of the Lomaxes, either 10/37 or 8/33, Harlan Kentucky
I used to be a rambler, I stayed around in town
I used to be a rambler, I stayed around in town
I courted Pretty Polly, her beauty has never been found
Polly, Pretty Polly, would you think it unkind?
Polly, Pretty Polly, would you think it unkind?
For me to sit down beside you and tell you my mind.
I courted Pretty Polly, one whole live long night
I courted Pretty Polly, one whole live long night
Left the next morning, before it was light
Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, come go along with me
Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, come go along with me
Before we get married, some pleasure to see
I led her over hills and through valleys so deep
I led her over hills and through valleys so deep
Pretty Polly, she mistrusted and then began to weep
Oh Willy, oh Willy, I'm feared from your ways
Oh Willy, Sweet Willy, I'm feared from your ways
The way you've been rambling you'll lead me astray
Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, you're guessing just right
Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, you're guessing just right
I dug on your grave, six long hours of last night
She went on a little piece farther and what did she spy?
She went on a little piece farther and what did she spy?
A new grave was dug and the spade a-lying by
No time now to study, no time now to stand,
No time now to study, no time now to stand,
He stood with his knife drew in his right hand.
She threw her arms around him and trembled with fear
She threw her arms around him and began for to weep
How can you kill a poor girl you love so dear?
Stabbed her through the heart and her heart blood did flow
Stabbed her through the heart and her heart blood did flow
Down in the grave Pretty Polly had to go.
Threw the dirt over her and turned away to go
Threw the dirt over her and turned away to go
Leave nothing behind but the wild birds to moan.
All you good people I'll bid you farewell
All you good people I'll bid you farewell
I murdered Pretty Polly, my soul's bound for hell.
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