Pretty Polly- Tab Ward (NC) pre1966 Burton/Manning
[From Folksongs II, Burton and Manning, 1969. Ward claims he learned this song from an old 78 rpm record by Molly O'Day but I think he is mistaken it for Day's "Poor Ellen Smith," which along with "Omie Wise," have been compared to and derived from Pretty Polly.
Several recordings of Ward playing Pretty Polly are available online at Appalachian State Digital Collections:
http://omeka.library.appstate.edu/items/show/39583
http://omeka.library.appstate.edu/items/show/39564
R. Matteson 2016]
Pretty Polly- Tab Ward; 1966
1. Oh, I used to be a rambler, I've been around this town,
I used to be a rambler, I've been around this town,
I courted Pretty Polly and married and settled down.
2. Oh, where is Pretty Polly? Over yander she stands,
Oh, where is Pretty Polly? Over yander she stands,
With rings on her fingers, lily-white hands.
3. "Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, come and go with me,
Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, come and go with me,
Before we get married, some pleasure we see."
4, "Sweet Willie, Sweet Willie, I'm afraid of your ways,
Sweet Willie, Sweet Willie, I'm 'fraid of your ways,
The way that you've been ramblin', you'll lead me astray.
5. "Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, your guess is 'bout right,
Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, your guess is 'bout right,
I've dug on your grave biggest part of last night."
6. "Sweet Willie, Sweet Willie, please spare me my life,
Sweet Willie, Sweet Willie, please spare me my life, "
And deep into her bosom he stobbed the fateful knife.
7. She fell to the ground and the blood from her flowed,
She fell to the ground and the blood from her flowed,
And deep into the grave Pretty Polly did go.
8. "I throwed the dirt around her and turned to go home,
I throwed the dirt around her and turned to go home,
I left Pretty Polly where the birds weep and moan."