Sweet William- (KY) 1907 JAF Pettit/Kittredge B
[My title. No informant or specific location named. From: "Ballads and Rhymes from Kentucky" p. 251 edited by G. L. Kittredge, 1907 JAF.
Opening stanzas missing. The last stanza spoken (sung) by her ghost would be the an opening stanza.
R. Matteson 2016]
B. [Sweet William] provided by Katherine Pettit from Hindman, Kentucky area to Kittredge by 1907.
1. "Sweet William, sweet William,
You are leading me astray,
O'er high hills and low valleys,
My innocent heart to betray."
2. "O yes, pretty Polly,
You are guessing just right;
I were digging your grave
The biggest part of last night."
3. They advanced a bit farther;
At length she did spy
The grave being dug ready
And spade sitting by.
4. She threw her arms around him,
Saying, "Suffer no fear;
How can you kill a poor girl
That loves you so dear?"
5. "O here we are,
No time for to stand!"
He drew his sharp knife
All in his right hand;
6. He pierced it through her heart,
The blood it did flow,
And into the grave
This poor body did go.
7. He threw a little dust over her,
And turned to go home,
Left nothing behind
But the small birds to mourn.
8. Sweet William was lying
In his cabin asleep,
He thought he heard the voice
Of pretty Polly speak:
9. "O yonder's pretty Polly,
O yonder she stands,
With gold rings on her fingers,
Her lily-white hands."