5 In six weeks' time when the 'Sizes came on Young Polly appeared in the form of a swan, Crying: Jimmy, young Jimmy, young Jimmy is clear, He never shall be hang-ed for the shooting of his dear. (Lucy White, 1903)
There aren't many- and ty for sharing about "room"
The Karpeles Newfoundland version online is not by Mr. Thomas Ghaney at Colliers, Conception Bay, 22nd October, 1929. It's by Norman Kennedy, a hand-weaver from Aberdeen.
I've got the entire version of Polly Wand from The Diary of the American Revolution, 1775-1781 - Page 239, 240 by Frank Moore, John Anthony Scott - 1967. It's reprinted in Sing Out, 1967. They say the "lyric is from oral tradition" but don't provided details. Not sure of the oral source and their claims. Their notes and text follows:
"Polly Wand" is an excellent example of an imported British broadside ballad, and a particular favorite of Americans during the Revolution. Variants of the song have been found in all parts of the United States as well as in England, Scotland, and Ireland.
The melody and the refrain given here, have been transcribed from the singing of Paul Clayton. The lyric is from oral tradition, but differs only in minor details from the broadside version issued by Nathaniel Coverly, Jr. of Boston shortly after 1800 (Ford, Isaiah Thomas 211.)
Come all you brave huntsmen who follow the gun, Beware of your shooting at the setting of the sun, For her true love went hunting and he shot in the dark, And o! and alas! Polly Wand was his mark.
As Polly was walking by the setting of the sun, She stepped under a green branch the shower to shun; Her true love was a-hunting, and he shot in the dark, Alas, and alas! Polly Wand was his mark.
And when he ran to her and found that it was she, His legs grew weak, and his eyes could scarcely see, He took her in his arms, and he found that she was dead, And a thousand thousand tears for his own true love he shed.
For you had your apron wrapped about you, And I took you for a swan, But woe and alas! it was you, Polly Wand.
He ran straight home with his gun in his hand, Saying father, dearest father, I have shot Polly Wand; I've shot that fair lady in the bloom of her life, And I always intended to make her my wife.
But she had her apron wrapped around her, And I took her for a swan, But woe and alas! it was she, Polly Wand.
At the height of his trial Polly Wand did appear. Crying father, dearest father, Jemmy Rander must be clear, For I had my apron all about me, and he took me for a swan, Woe and alas! it was I, Polly Wand.
Yes, I had my apron all about me, and he took me for a swan, Woe and alas, it was I, Polly Wand. Woe and alas! it was I, Polly Wand.