Polly Bam- Jane Hicks Gentry (NC) 1916 Sharp A
[Mt title. From: English Folk Songs From The Southern Appalachians (1917 and 1932) by Olive Dame Campbell, Cecil James Sharp, ed. Maud Karpeles. The 1932 notes follow.
Sharp A is from Jane Hicks Gentry who learned this from her mother, Emoline (Emily) Harmon, who was Council Harmon's daughter. When his father Andrew was killed by a tree, the eight-year-old Council (born early 1800s) lived briefly with Big Sammy Hicks and his son in Watauga County, NC. I believe that Big Sammy was one of Council's main sources. Big Sammy's daughter Sabra was Council's mother.
R. Matteson 2016]
1932 Notes: No. 50. Shooting of his Dear.
Texts without tunes :—Journal of American Folk-Lore, xxii. 387 ; xxxix. 136.
Texts with tunes: Journal of the Folk-Song Society, ii. 59; vii. 17. Journal of the Irish Folk-Song Society, iii. 25. Songs of the West, 2nd ed., No. 62. Folk Songs
from Somerset, No. 16. ' Molly Ban (pronounced Van) so fair/ Petrie's Collection of Irish Music, Nos. 724 and 1171 (tunes only). Joyce's Ancient Irish Music, p. 20.
Journal of American Folk-Lore, xxx. 358, Cox's Folk Songs of the South, pp. 339 (see also further references) and 529.
[Polly Bam] (No. 50, Shooting of His Dear)- Sung by Mrs. JANE GENTRY at Hot Springs, N. C, Aug. 25, 1916. Sharp A
1. Jimmy Dannels[1] went a hunting
Between sun set and dark.
Her white apron over her shoulder,
He took her for a swan.
2 He throwed down his gun
And to her he run.
He hugged her, he kissed her
Till he found she was dead.
3 Then dropping her down
To his uncle he run.
Good woe and good lasses[2],
I've killed poor Polly Bam.
4 O uncle, O uncle, what shall I do?
For woe and good lasses,
I've killed poor Polly Bam.
Her white apron over her shoulder.
But woe and good lasses[2],
It was poor Polly Bam.
5 Stay in your own country
And don't run away.
6 The day before trial
The ladies all appeared in a row.
Polly Bam 'peared among them
Like a fountain of snow[3].
7 Don't hang Jimmy Dannels,
For he's not to blame.
My white apron over my shoulder
He took me for a swan;
But woe and good lasses[2],
It was me, poor Polly Bam.
1. For "Daniels"
2. Derived from "But oh, and alas"
3. She is a ghost at this point- see also "snow" reference in Sam Henry's Songs of the People: "Molly Bawn Lowry." The snow reference is to: a ghost; her in swan form; or simple that she shines (is more beautiful) among them like a "fountain of snow."