Lovin' Polly

Cat. #0047 (MFH #346) - As sung by Mrs. Allie Long Parker, Eureka Springs, Arkansas on March 27, 1958

VERSE 1
He, follered me up, he followed me down
He, follered me day by day
I hadn't th power to bid him, begone
Nor th tongue to tell him nay, nay
Nor th tongue to tell him nay, nay
Nor tongue to tell him nay, nay

VERSE 2
Go, take a part of your Fathers gold
Likewise your Mothers fee
Two fastest horses in your Fathers stable
Where there stands thirty and three
Where there stands thirty and three
Where there stands thirty and three

VERSE 3
I went an' took part of my Fathers gold
Likewise my Mothers fee
Two fastest horses in my Fathers stable
Where there stood thirty an' three
Where there stood thirty an' three
Where there stood thirty an' three

VERSE 4
As he got on th milk white steed
I rode th dapple gray
We rode and we rode, to th salt, salt sea
Three hours before it was day
Three hours before it was day
Three hours before it was day

VERSE 5
Alight you down, my pretty Polly
Alight you down, cried he
It's six kings daughters I've drowned here
And th seventh one you shall be
And th seventh one you shall be
And th seventh one you shall be

VERSE 6
Take off, take off that unhallowed gown
And foll it on my knee
For it is to rich an' costly
To rot in th salt sea, sea
To rot in th salt sea, sea
To rot in th salt sea, sea

VERSE 7
O, turn your back all unto me
An' view yon willow tree
For an ungown woman's to much of a sight
For any mankind to see
For any mankind to see
For any mankind to see

VERSE 8
He turned his back, all unto her
To view yon willow tree
She caught him around th middle so small
And tossed him into th sea
An' tossed him into th sea
An' tossed him into th sea

VERSE 9
O, reach me your hand, my pretty Polly
O, reach me your hand, cried he
And every promise I made to you
I'll double them folds three, three
I'll double them folds three, three
I'll double them folds three, three

VERSE 10
Lay there, lay there, you false hearted wretch
Lay there, lay there, cried she
It's six kings daughters you drowned here
But th seventh one I won't be
But th seventh one I won't be
But th seventh one I won't be

VERSE 11
And she got on th milk white steed
And led th dapple gray
She rode and she rode, to her Fathers stable
One hour before it was day
One hour before it was day
One hour before it was day

VERSE 12
I went 'n put back my Fathers gold
Likewise my Mothers fee
Two fastest horses in my Fathers stable
Where there stood thirty an' three
Where there stood thirty an' three
Where there stood thirty an' three

VERSE 13
Hush up, hush up, my pretty parrott
Don't tell no tales on me
And your cage shall be made of th finest of gold
And your door of ivory
And your cage shall be made of th finest of gold
And your door of ivory

Variants