Pretty Polly- C. Sutherland (KY) 1925 Cox II, A
[Traditional Ballads & Folk Songs Mainly from West Virginia by John Harrington Cox (May 27, 1863-November 21, 1945) - 1939. Edited by George Herzog and Herbert Halpert 1939 and George Boswell, 1964.
This version was taken from Senator Hilliard Smith before 1907 by Katherine Pettit and was published in the 1909 JAF by Kittredge. It was later collected by Sharp and is his C version. It has been slightly rewritten by, I assume, Pettit and appears in standard form; repeated first line and rhyming third line.
It also appears in West Virginia Songbag on p. 74 by Jim F. Comstock, 1974 as his B version.
R. Matteson 2016]
PRETTY POLLY- Communicated by Miss Catherine Sutherland, a Hindman, Knott County, Kentucky, music teacher on December 20, 1925. Recreated slightly from Senator Hilliard Smith's pre-1907 version; Pettit; also Sharp C without repeated first line.
1. O Polly, Pretty Polly, oh yonder she stands,
O Polly, Pretty Polly, oh yonder she stands,
Gold rings on her fingers, her lily white hands.
2. "O Polly, Pretty Polly, come go along with me,
O Polly, Pretty Polly, come go along with me,
Before we got married some pleasure to see."
3. "O William, Sweet William, O William," said she,
"O William, Sweet William, O William," said she,
"I fear your intentions are for to murder me."
4. "O Polly, O Polly, you've guessed about right,
O Polly, O Polly, you've guessed about right,
I was digging your grave the best part of last night."
5. They went a little farther and she began to shy,
They wont a little farther and she began to shy,
She saw her grave dug and a spade sitting by.
6. She threw her arms around him saying, "I'm in no fear,"
She threw her arms around him saying, "I'm in no fear;
How can you kill a poor girl that loves you so dear."
7. "O Polly, O Polly, we've no time to stand,
O Polly, O Polly, we've no time to stand,"
He drew his revolver all out in his hand.
8. He shot her through the heart, which caused her blood to flow,
He shot her through tho heart, which caused her blood to flow,
And into her grave her body he did throw.
9. He threw her in the grave, straightway he did run,
He threw her in the grave, straightway he did run,
Left no on to weep, but the little birds to mourn.
10 The ship was getting ready all on the sea side,
The ship was setting ready all on the sea side,
He swore by his maker he'd sail the other side.
11. All on whilst he was sailing the ship she sprung leak,
All on whilst he was sailing the ship she sprung leak,
All away to the bottom Sweet William did sink.
12. There he met with Pretty Polly, all in the gores blood,
There he met with Pretty Polly all in the gores blood,
In her lily white arms an infant of mine.
13. Such screaming and hollering it all passed away,
Such screaming and hollering it all passed away,
A debt to the devil, he sure had to pay.