Pretty Polly- M. Combs (KY) 1931 Henry C
[From: Mellinger E. Henry's Folk Songs From the Southern Highlands, 1938. His notes follow.
This version is standard except for the last line which may have been taken from the ballad, "The Two Sisters."
R. Matteson 2016]
COME, PRETTY POLLY See Campbell and Sharp, No. 39; Kittredge, Journal, XX, 261; Wyman and Brockway, 79; New Jersey Journal of Education, March, 1926. For full history of this song see Cox's head-note to No. 89.
C. [Pretty Polly] Obtained from Miss Margaret Combs, Guerrant, Breathitt County, Kentucky, September, 1931. Note that this version was recovered in the same community as A.
1. Pretty Polly, pretty Polly, over yonder she stands;
Pretty Polly, pretty Polly, over yonder she stands,
A ring on her finger and lily white hand.
2. "Pretty Polly, pretty Polly, come and go along with me;
Pretty Polly, pretty Polly, come and go along with me;
Before we get married some pleasure to see."
3. He led her o'er mountain and valley so deep;
He led her o'er mountain and valley so deep;
Just then pretty Polly began to mourn and weep.
4. "Oh, Willie, oh, Willie, I'm afraid of your ways;
Oh, Willie, oh, Willie, I'm afraid of your ways;
The way you've been rambling to lead me astray."
5. "Pretty Polly, pretty Polly, you guessed about right;
Pretty Polly, pretty Polly, you guessed about right;
My mind is to drown you and leave you behind."
6. He stabbed her through the heart and her blood it did flow;
He stabbed her through the heart and her blood it did flow;
And threw her in the mill dam below.[1]
1. cf. "Two Sisters"