Pretty Polly

Cat. #0542 (MFH #420) - As sung by Harrison Burnett, Fayetteville, Arkansas on August 18, 1960

VERSE 1
O, Polly, pretty Polly
Come go 'long with me
O, Polly, pretty Polly
Come go 'long with me
Before we get married
A strange country to see

VERSE 2
He led 'er over hills
An valleys so deep
He led 'er over hills
An valleys so deep
Until this fair damsel
Begin for to weep

VERSE 3
O, Willie, sweet Willie
I fear from your ways
O, Willie, sweet Willie
I fear from your ways
I fear that your leading
My body astray

VERSE 4
O, Polly, pretty Polly
Your guessing just right
O, Polly, pretty Polly
Your guessing just right
I dug on your grave
Th best part of last night

VERSE 5
Go on a little farther
See what you can spie
Go on a little farther
See what you can spie
She spied her grave dug
An' th spade a lie'n by

VERSE 6
She threw 'er arms around 'im
Not sufferin no fear
She threw 'er arms around 'im
Not sufferin no fear
How can you kill a poor girl
That loves you, so dear

VERSE 7
O, Polly, pretty Polly
There's no time to stand
O, Polly, pretty Polly
There's no time to stand
He drew his sharp knife
All in his right hand

VERSE 8
He pierced it through 'er heart
An' th blood it did flow
He pierced it through 'er heart
An' th blood it did flow
An' into th tomb
Her poor body did go

VERSE 9
He threw a little dirt over
An' turned to go home
He threw a little dirt over
An' turned to go home
With nothing behind him
But th birds for to morn

VERSE 10
Come gentlemen an' ladies
I'll bid you adieu
Come gentlemen an' ladies
I'll bid you adieu
My song has now ended
Although it is true

Variants