Pretty Polly- Pete Steele (KY- OH) 1938 Lomax REC
[Recording AFS1702A recorded for Library of Congress by Lomax on March 30, 1938. Also Banjo Tunes and Songs- Pete Steele; recorded by Ed Kahn, 1958. A Burea bio and Kahn's notes follow. The text is the standard short Appalachian text, probably learned in Kentucky.
R. Matteson 2016]
https://www.loc.gov/item/ihas.200197217
Bio from Burea: Alan Lomax made these recordings March 30, 1938 at the Steele home in Hamilton, Ohio. He had become aware of Pete Steel’s remarkable banjo virtuosity at the Ohio Valley Folk Festival in Cincinnati a few days earlier. Born March 5, 1891, Pete grew up in the Corbin - London, Kentucky area. At age nineteen he married London native, Lillie Swanner. Over several years’ time he held a variety of jobs in various parts of Indiana and Ohio as well as Kentucky. It was from East Bernstadt near London that in 1937 the family moved to Hamilton, Ohio. There Mr. Steele joined the ranks of the many other rural Kentuckians who had found dependable work at the Champion Paper Company.
Link: http://digital.berea.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p16020coll13/id/124
Banjo Tunes and Songs- Pete Steele; recorded by Ed Kahn, 1958.
SIDE II, Band 6: PRETTY POLLY
Another of the American ballads about a man murdering his sweetheart, this one stems from mid-eighteenth century broadsides (see Laws ABBB, pp.
268-269)
This ballad and "The Gosport Tragedy" have a close connection; the "Gosport Tragedy" giving, in most cases, more complete details. The development of the "Gosport Tragedy" into the ballad of "Pretty Polly" is a wonderful example of Tristram P. Coffin's theory of ballad development.
"The Gosport Tragedy," with all of its many details, still retains the personal touch of a broadside writer. By the time "Pretty Polly" has emerged, only the essentials of the ballad remain, shaped by transmission, and lacking the marks on an individual's composition. "Pretty Polly," in its varying forms, has been widely reported from the southern Appalachian region of this country. Mr. Steele learned this version from Andy Whitaker.
"Pretty Polly"
Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, came and go with me,
Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, came and go with me,
Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, came and go with me,
Before we get married some pleasure to see.
Pretty Willy, Pretty Willy, I fear your way,
Pretty Willy, Pretty Willy, I fear your way,
Pretty Willy, Pretty Willy, I fear your way,
You taken my body all out astray.
Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, you was guessing just right,
Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, you was guessing just right,
Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, you was guessing just right,
I dug on your grave the biggest part of last night.
Yes he lead her over them hills and the valley so deep,
Yes he lead her over them hills and the valley so deep,
He lead her over the hills and the valley so deep,
And at last Pretty Polly begin to weep.
Yes she threw her arms around him she suffered no fear,
Yes she threw her arms around him she suffered no fear,
She threw her arms around him, suffered no fear,
How can you kill the poor girl that loves you so dear?
Said no time to talk, no time to stand,
No time to talk, no time to stand,
No time to talk, no time to stand,
Then he drew his knife all in his right hand.
Yes he stobbed her to the heart and the blood it did flow,
Yes he stobbed her to the heart and the blood it did flow,
Stobbed her to the heart and the blood it did flow,
And into the grave Pretty Polly did go.
Yes he threw some dirt o'er her and turned to go home,
Yes he threw some dirt o'er her and turned to go home,
He threw some dirt o'er her and turned to go home,
Left nothing behind but them birds to mourn.