The Ship's Carpenter- Mrs. Huntoon (MO) 1934 Randolph C
[From Ozark Folksongs II, 1947 by Randolph. His notes follow.
Randolph spells the broadside "The Gaspard Tragedy" which is Mackenzie's spelling. The date for the William Chapman is about 30 years later and Combs' version although titled "The Gosport Tragedy" is just a version of Pretty Polly.
The first stanza is from broadside B, the second closed to broadside B as is the third and fourth. The rest is standard American except for Willie leaving on the steamer in the last stanza. The last line was borrowed from another American murder ballad.
R. Matteson 2016]
153. PRETTY POLLY
"Pretty Polly" is a condensation of "The Gaspard Tragedy," a long British ballad that dates at least to the middle of the eighteenth century (Ebsworth, Roxburghe Ballads, 1899 VIII, pp. 143, 173). see Kittregge JAFL 20, 1907, p. 261) for references.
American texts have been reported by Campbell and Sharp (English Folk songs from the southern Appalachian:
1917, No. 39), Mackenzie (Quest of the Ballad, 1919, p. 55; Cox (Folk-Songs of the South, 1925 p.308), Kincaid (My Favorite Mountain Ballads, 1928, p.35); Niles (More songs of the Hill Folk, 1936, pp. 2-3), and Scarborough (A Song Catcher in Southern Mountains, 1937 pp. 128-134). Cox (Traditional Ballads, 1939, p. 62) reports a West Virginia text with a reference to one Polly Aldridge, murdered by William Chapman near Warfield, Ky, about 1820
"The Gosport Tragedy" is given by Combs (Folk-Song from the Kentucky Highlands" 1939, pp.35-37), and "Pretty Polly" by Brewster (Ballads and Songs of Indiana, 1940, pp. 298-299. Compare also the phonograph record, by Dock Boggs (Brunswick 132) and B. F. Shelton (Victor 35538).
C. "The Ship's Carpenter." From a manuscript copy supplied by Mrs. Charles Huntoon, St. Louis, Mo., May 2,1934.
Mrs. Huntoon called the song "The Ship's Carpenter," and had learned it from relatives living near Cotter, Ark.
In London a fair maid did dwell,
Her wealth and her beauty no one could compare,
A young man courted her for his lawful wedded wife,
He was by trade but a ship's carpenter.
With love and embraces they parted that night,
She arose next morning to meet him by light,
Oh come and go with me, before we are married,
Oh come and go with me, a friend for to see.
Over ridges and ditches and hollows so deep,
At last this fair maiden began for to weep,
I am fearful, dear Willie, you've led me astray,
And now for some purpose my life will betray.
Oh yes, pretty Polly, you are talking just right,
I was digging your grave all in order last night,
Poor[1] innocent maiden [did hear him say so,]
And the tears from her eyes in fair fountains did flow.
She looked to his side, and her grave was there to see,
Is this the bright home you have prepared for me?
Oh pity my soul, my sweet life is betrayed,
And I young and blooming am hurried to my grave!
This here is no time for to talk or to stand,
He immediately drew a long knife in his hand,
He pierced through her heart and the blood it did flow,
And into the grave her fair body he did throw.
He covered her up and returned back home,
He left nothing there but the small birds to mourn,
He mounted a steamer that very same day,
Pretty Polly a-blooming lay mouldering away.
1. When the poor [end of this line was filled out from broadside B]