help on lyrics for "Pretty Polly"
Jeff Esworthy
ballad called "pretty polly", but I seem to have lost or disremembered
some of the verses. Can anyone help me out? Verses I remember include:
William, Sweet William, I'm afraid of your way
and you're standin' beside a freshly dug grave
Polly, Pretty Polly, you're just about right
I dug on your grave the biggest part of last night
It seems to be the first couple verses that I'm drawing blanks on.
If anyone knows, please e-me at : eswo...@wksu.kent.edu
BFrank53
You guys must still have some bluegrass records buried in a back closet
over there at WKSU.
Bob
dura,john j
Jeff Esworthy <eswo...@wksu.kent.edu> wrote:
>Years ago, I heard a record by Lily Mae Ledford where she sang a murder
>ballad called "pretty polly", but I seem to have lost or disremembered
>some of the verses. Can anyone help me out? Verses I remember include:
>
Then killed her next morning before it was light
Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, come and go along with me,
Before we get married, some pleasure to see.
She got up behind hime and away they did go,
Over the mountains and the valleys so low.
They rode a little bit further and what did they spy?
But a new dug grave and a spade lying by.
"Oh, Willie, sweet Willie, I'm afraid of your ways,
I'm afraid you will lead my poor body astray."
"Pretty Polly, pretty Polly, you're guessing just right,
I dug on your grave better part of last night."
Then from pretty Polly the tears began to swell,
"Have pity on me and your infant as well."
He stabbed his knife into her, her life's blood did flow,
And into her grave pretty Polly did go.
He threw a little dirt over her and started for home,
Leaving no one behind but the wild birds to mourn.
A debt to the Devil, sweet Willie must pay,
For killing pretty Polly and running away.
Hope it helps,
John Dura
jd...@cc.bellcore.com