Pretty Polly- Presnell (NC) pre1963 Burton/Manning
[From Folksongs II, Burton and Manning, 1969. This version is full and quite old except perhaps for the ending. It's sung by Hattie Presnell on December 9, 1966 and was learned from her father-in-law, Lee Monroe Presnell (5-15-1876, died 1963). Presnell's mother was the daughter of Council Harmon of the Hicks/Harmon line. "Uncle Monroe" Presnell lived on a ridge way up on Beech Mountain, NC.
There are several stanzas besides the standard text that relate to the old Gosport broadsides.
R. Matteson 2016]
PRETTY POLLY - Sung by Hattie Presnell, December 9, 1966; learned from her father-in-law, Lee Monroe Presnell.
1. I courted a fair young lady, in London she dwelled,
I courted a fair young lady, in London she dwelled,
Her love and her beauty no human tongue can tell.
"Her name is Pretty Polly, over yonder she stands,
Her name is Pretty Polly, over yonder she stands,
With gold rings on her fingers and lily-white hands.
"Polly, Pretty Polly, would you think it unkind,
Polly, Pretty Polly, would you think it unkind,
For me to sit beside you and tell you my mind?"
"My mind is to marry and never to part,
My mind is to marry and never to part,
for the first time I saw you, you wounded my heart."
"Polly, Pretty Polly, come go along with me,
Polly, Pretty Polly, come go along with me,
Before we get married some pleasure to see."
He led her up the mountain, the way was so steep,
He led her up the mountain, the way was so steep,
Pretty Polly mistrusted and then began to weep.
"Polly, Pretty Polly, what makes you so sad?
"Polly, Pretty Polly, what makes you so sad?
There's nothing concerning you to make you so mad."
"Willie, Sweet Willie, I'm 'fraid of your way,
Willie, Sweet Willie, I'm 'fraid of your way,
The way you've been rambling you'll lead me astray."
"Polly, Pretty Polly, your guess is about right,
Polly, Pretty Polly, your guess is about right,
I dug on your grave the biggest part of last night."
She went on a little piece futher[1] and what did she spy,
She went on a little piece futher and what did she spy,
A new-duggen grave and a spade layin' by.
"Willie, Sweet Willie, won't you spare me my life?
Willie, Sweet Willie, won't you spare me my life?
I will go a-beggin' if I can't be your wife."
"Polly, Pretty Polly, that never could be,
Polly, Pretty Polly, that never could be,
For your repatation[1] would foller after me."
He splunge a dagger through her, the blood hit did flow,
He splunge a dagger through her, the blood hit did flow,
And down in the grave Pretty Polly did go.
He threw a few sods over her, he turn-ed for home,
He threw a few sods over her, he turn-ed for home,
He left Pretty lolly in the wild woods alone.
Ship come a-sailin' around the seaside,
Ship come a-sailin' around the seaside,
He mounted the ship for to take a little ride.
He sailed the ocean over his heart content,
He sailed the ocean over his heart content,
The ship hit an iceberg and down she went.
Now Pretty Polly is gone on to rest,
Now Pretty Polly is gone on to rest,
What become of Sweet Willie, you all surely can guess.
1. further
2. reputation- this alludes to her pregnancy, whether the singer understood that or not.