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01 Feb 06 - 05:54 AM (#1658853) Subject: Pretty Polly? From: GUEST I was just wondering...does anyone know this. I was looking at the lyrics to "Pretty Polly" as found on this website. Isn't there another one out there about some guy named Willie who stabs her to death (Okay, that's common in folk songs, but I'm SURE I saw it)??? |
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01 Feb 06 - 06:50 AM (#1658874) Subject: RE: Pretty Polly? From: Nick I think Judy Collins sings it on 'Who Knows Where the Time Goes' album. Definitely some 'stabbed her to the heart' and 'Willie O Willie' lines in it Something like Polly Pretty Polly come go along with me Polly Pretty Polly come go along with me Before we get married some pleasure to see etc etc |
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01 Feb 06 - 07:51 AM (#1658907) Subject: RE: Pretty Polly? From: Grab Try searching Google for "polly pretty polly". Plenty of hits on lyrics sites. Graham. |
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01 Feb 06 - 09:57 AM (#1659037) Subject: RE: Pretty Polly? From: Pinetop Slim There's at least one version with a verse: Willie, oh Willie, I'm afraid of your ways (2c) Afraid you will lead my poor body astray |
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01 Feb 06 - 10:05 AM (#1659050) Subject: RE: Pretty Polly? From: Duke You might want to check out, "Omie Wise". I seem to recall it was similar to Pretty Polly. |
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01 Feb 06 - 12:24 PM (#1659187) Subject: Lyr Add: PRETTY MOLLY From: Goose Gander It appears as Pretty Molly in Voices From the Dust Bowl PRETTY MOLLY Pauline Ramsay Visalia, 1941 Pretty Molly, Pretty Molly Come go along with me Before we get married Some friends for to see He lead her o'er hollers And valleys so deep At last Pretty Molly Began for to weep Sweet William, sweet William Yore leading me astray An innocent love You shall betray Pretty Molly, pretty Molly Yore guessin' jest right For I dug at yore grave One half of last night Stand back, stand back No time, to stand And innocent he stood With a big knife in his hand He stabbed her to the heart And her blood it did flow And into her grave Her body did go Now ladymens and gentlemens I bid you do right For Gray was distracted And died the same night |
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01 Feb 06 - 05:23 PM (#1659505) Subject: RE: Pretty Polly? From: Tradsinger Check out the English song "The Cruel Ship's Carpenter" which is the origin of this song, but with a creepy supernatural ending. Gwilym |
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01 Feb 06 - 05:45 PM (#1659525) Subject: RE: Pretty Polly? From: Malcolm Douglas There is more than one "Pretty Polly" here. There are several; it's a very common phrase, and song title. See the DT file PRETTY POLLY (2) ... this includes links to various related files and Forum discussions. Many concern the ancestral Cruel Ships Carpenter, which Gwilym has already mentioned. |
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02 Feb 06 - 11:03 AM (#1660114) Subject: RE: Pretty Polly? From: GUEST,Scoville at work (sort of) I used to sing a version that had eighteen verses but I can't remember them all and it's been pared down to this (based mostly on the Stanley Brothers version but tweaked a bit from other sources). Sing the first line twice and then the third line once: "Polly, pretty Polly, come and go along with me, Polly, pretty Polly, come and go along with me, Before we get married, some pleasure to see." Led her over mountains and valleys so deep . . . Polly mistrusted him and then began to weep. "Willie, oh, Willie, I'm afraid of your ways, . . . The way you been rambling, gonna lead me astray." "Polly, pretty Polly, your guess is about right . . . I dug on your grave the biggest part of last night." Led her on further and what did she spy? But a newly-dug grave with a spade lying by. She knelt down before him, a-pleading for her life, "Let me go rejected if I cannot be your wife." "Polly, pretty Polly, that never can be, Your past reputation's been trouble to me." Stabbed her through the breast and her heart's blood did flow, And into the grave pretty Polly did go. Threw some dirt o'er her and started for home, Leaving no-one behind but the wild birds to mourn. They met him on the mountain and carried him to jail, No friends nor relations would go on his bail. Sitting in the jail cell and what did he say? "I killed pretty Polly, been trying to get away." |
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03 Feb 06 - 03:28 AM (#1660827) Subject: RE: Pretty Polly? From: GUEST,J.C. Pretty Polly aka The Cruel Ship's Carpenter - aka The Gosport Tragedy, aka The Ghost Ship, aka In Dublin's Fair City et al. The Roud index lists 292 versions, mostly American, though it has been found in Britain and Ireland. Earliest known version, The Gosport Tragedy or The Perjured Ship's Carpenter, printed and sold in a Garland at The Printing Office, Bow Churchyard, London in 1750. Best known English recorded version from Sam Larner, a Norfolk fisherman, entitled The Ghost Ship, where the murdered woman returns and takes revenge on her murderer. Harry Cox, also from Norfolk, also sang it. Best American version by far (in my opinion) is by Frank Proffitt of North Carolina, which is beautifully sung by Peggy Seeger on various records. |
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03 Feb 06 - 10:19 AM (#1661028) Subject: RE: Pretty Polly? From: GUEST B. F. Shelton's Pretty Polly (1927) from The Folktunes Arcive |
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04 Feb 06 - 08:00 PM (#1661764) Subject: RE: Pretty Polly? From: GUEST Thank you! This is the same person who started the whole thing. A lot of what I've heard here is what I'm looking for. Yes, I've heard "Omie Wise". Thanks again! Unknown Guest |
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04 Feb 06 - 08:56 PM (#1661807) Subject: RE: Pretty Polly? From: Goose Gander The Folktunes Archive site also has Doc Boggs' Pretty Polly also recorded in 1927. |
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05 Feb 06 - 11:23 AM (#1662142) Subject: Song Add - Pretty Polly? - From: Abby Sale I think you're looking for one of my favorite songs and one of my favorites to sing. I posted it a second time at Pretty Polly or The Ghost Song but the harvesters don't seem to like it. I have no knowledge of its geneology except the obvious similarities to the songs cited. |
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20 Feb 07 - 03:52 AM (#1973369) Subject: Lyr Add: PRETTY POLLY (trad Kentucky) From: GUEST Here is another version, from the blind Harlan Kentucky fiddler/singer Jim Howard. The recording dates come from here: A List of Fiddlers On Field Recordings in the Archive of Folk Culture. This is the website of Old Time fiddler Kerry Blech, who lives down in Florida. I got the version from here: The Roots Music Listening Room, from the juneberry78s.com website. There's a mountain of MP3s to be heard here - great music but all done on the sly - these Library of Congress recordings seem to have been made public by Kerry himself, who loaned them out to someone who gave them to Tom Morrison (aka "Norm"), proprietor of Juneberry, who also will make you CDs - for a fee. So take him with a grain of salt. This is a fantastic recording in any case - way more evil than Boggs or Shelton's, great as those are. Someone (Howard himself?) helpfully recites the lyrics at the end, too. Pretty Polly Jim Howard Version Rec. by one of the Lomaxes, either 10/37 or 8/33, Harlan Kentucky I used to be a rambler, I stayed around in town I used to be a rambler, I stayed around in town I courted Pretty Polly, her beauty has never been found Polly, Pretty Polly, would you think it unkind? Polly, Pretty Polly, would you think it unkind? For me to sit down beside you and tell you my mind. I courted Pretty Polly, one whole live long night I courted Pretty Polly, one whole live long night Left the next morning, before it was light Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, come go along with me Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, come go along with me Before we get married, some pleasure to see I led her over hills and through valleys so deep I led her over hills and through valleys so deep Pretty Polly, she mistrusted and then began to weep Oh Willy, oh Willy, I'm feared from your ways Oh Willy, Sweet Willy, I'm feared from your ways The way you've been rambling you'll lead me astray Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, you're guessing just right Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, you're guessing just right I dug on your grave, six long hours of last night She went on a little piece farther and what did she spy? She went on a little piece farther and what did she spy? A new grave was dug and the spade a-lying by No time now to study, no time now to stand, No time now to study, no time now to stand, He stood with his knife drew in his right hand. She threw her arms around him and trembled with fear She threw her arms around him and began for to weep How can you kill a poor girl you love so dear? Stabbed her through the heart and her heart blood did flow Stabbed her through the heart and her heart blood did flow Down in the grave Pretty Polly had to go. Threw the dirt over her and turned away to go Threw the dirt over her and turned away to go Leave nothing behind but the wild birds to moan. All you good people I'll bid you farewell All you good people I'll bid you farewell I murdered Pretty Polly, my soul's bound for hell. |
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20 Feb 07 - 04:01 AM (#1973374) Subject: RE: Pretty Polly? From: GUEST,Kevin Rietmann Better throw in my proper name while I'm at it. |
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20 Feb 07 - 07:55 AM (#1973515) Subject: RE: Pretty Polly? From: GUEST,Bob Coltman E. C. Ball's fine (1941?) version with guitar is, I believe, featured on Library of Congress records that are commercially available. E.C. said he used his guitar to imitate a banjo version he'd heard (possibly B.F. Shelton's or John Hammond's), and both vocal and instrumental are classic and very dark and brooding. Bob |
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13 Nov 08 - 11:47 PM (#2493402) Subject: Lyr Add: PRETTY POLLY From: Goose Gander PRETTY POLLY O, where is Pretty Polly, over yonder she stands O, Where is Pretty Polly, over yonder she stands With rings on her fingers and lily-white hands O, Polly, Pretty Polly, won't you come and go with me? (2x) Before we get married, some pleasure we'll see O, she hopped on the horse behind him and away they did go (2x) And where she was going Pretty Polly did not know They rode over mountains and valleys so deep (2x) Pretty Polly didn't know it was her time to sleep They came to a new dug grave, a spade was lying by (2x) Pretty Polly then knew it was her time to die She knelt down beside him , a-pleading for her life (2x) Let me be a single girl, I cannot be your wife O, he opened her bosom, as white as the snow (2x) He stabbed through the heart and the blood it did flow He threw some dirt over her and turned for to go (2x) But where he was going in this world he did not know He caught a ship a-sailing down by the seaside (2x) He said to the captain he wanted to see the other side He sailed upon the ocean, for many days they went (2x) Til the ship struck an iceberg, to the bottom she went (N.D.) As sung by Paul Wiley, born in 1935 in northeastern Kentucky, and who moved to the state of Washington in 1964. Source: Comin' Round the Mountain: Old Time Southern Singing and Playing in Western Washington (Voyager Recordings, VRCD 2005). |
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14 Nov 08 - 03:24 AM (#2493457) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pretty Polly? From: pavane The one requested at the start of this thread, with the lines Polly Pretty Polly come go along with me Polly Pretty Polly come go along with me Before we get married some pleasure to see was sung by Sandy Denny on her first album, Sandy and Johnny, 1967, SAGA records |
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14 Nov 08 - 08:52 AM (#2493665) Subject: Lyr Add: THE CRUEL SHIP'S CARPENTER From: RTim Here is an un-published version of The Cruel Ship's Carpenter collected in 1907 by Dr. George Gardiner from George Blake (then of Bitterne, Southampton) that is sung to the tune - Villikins. Tim Radford. THE CRUEL SHIP'S CARPENTER. In fair Warwick city in fair Warwickshire A handsome young damsel oh! lived there A handsome young man courted her to be his dear And he was by trade a ship's carpenter. The king wanted seamen to go on the sea Which caused this young damsel to sigh and to say Oh, William, oh, William, don't you go to sea. Remember the vows that you made unto me. One morning so early before it was day, He came to his Polly; these words he did say: Oh, Polly, oh, Polly, you must go with me Before we are married our friends for to see. He led her through groves and valleys so steep Which caused this young damsel to sigh and to weep. Oh, William, oh, William, you have led me astray On purpose my innocent life to betray. It's true; it's true then these words I did say, For it's all this long night I've been digging your grave. The grave laying open the spade standing by, Which caused this young damsel to sigh and to cry. Oh, William, oh, William, you pardon my life. I never will covet to be your wife. I'll travel the country to set you quite free. Oh, pardon, oh, pardon my baby and me. No pardon, no pardon; there's no time to stand. And with that he had a knife in his hand. He stabbed her fair heart till the blood it did flow And into the grave her fair body he threw. He covered her up so safe and secure, Thinking no one would find her he was sure. He went on board to sail the world round Before that this murder could ever be found. One morning so early before it was day, The captain came up and these words he did say: There's a murder on board and it's lately been done. Our ship she's in mourning and cannot sail on. Then up stepped one, indeed it's not me. Then up stepped another, the same he did say. Then up stepped young William to stamp and to swear. Indeed it's not me, I vow and declare. As he was returning from the captain with speed, He met his fair Polly, which made his heart bleed. She stripped, she tore him, she tore him in three Because he had murdered her baby and she. |
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14 Nov 08 - 02:44 PM (#2494018) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pretty Polly? From: GUEST,Arnie Naiman Listen here: B.F. Shelton http://www.myspace.com/thebfshelton Spooky!!!!!!!!!! |
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11 Jan 10 - 11:22 AM (#2809103) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pretty Polly? From: Richie Hi, I'm doing a series of youtube videos combining my artwork: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASJjrxxCNmc Here's a link to my lyrics: http://bluegrassmessengers.com.temp.realssl.com/pretty-polly--version-12.aspx And also a link to my art site: http://www.mattesonart.com/pretty-polly.aspx I'm also doing a series of educational videos on youtube demonstating traditional songs and giving some background info. Richie |
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12 Jan 10 - 10:11 AM (#2809990) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pretty Polly? From: Richie Hi, I'm going to put a video the Coon Creek Girls version on here soon. It features Cari Norris, Lily May Ledford's grandaughter, playing the tune in a minor key tuning, old-time style on the banjo. I backed her up on guitar and my bass player joined us. I'm trying to document different versions of the song. Richie |
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15 Jan 10 - 01:50 AM (#2812373) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pretty Polly? From: Richie Hi, Here's my band with special guest Cari Norris playing Pretty Polly on youtube with some of my painting images: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV8fnwYm58I Cari is Lily May Ledford's grandaughter and plays Lily May's Vega banjo. Her lyrics are similar to the Coon Creek Girls version. I'll post a link later, Richie |
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15 Jan 10 - 07:10 PM (#2813168) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pretty Polly? From: The Sandman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAuc6rFXb1E |
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15 Jan 10 - 09:44 PM (#2813290) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pretty Polly? From: Richie Hi, Here's the link to Cari's lyrics: http://bluegrassmessengers.com.temp.realssl.com/pretty-polly--bluegrass-messengers--cari-norris.aspx Richie |
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15 Mar 21 - 10:05 AM (#4097754) Subject: new lyric: "I ain't singing Pretty Polly Any More" From: GUEST,Felipa I've become aware fairly recently of a widespread revolt against all these old songs about men killing women. And today I listened to a song by Dirk Powell called "I ain't playing Pretty Polly any more" (There are several recordings on youtube.com) https://www.newsbreak.com/louisiana/lafayette/news/1612278470760/listen-dirk-powell-i-aint-playing-pretty-polly-with-rhiannon-giddens LISTEN TO “I AIN’T PLAYING PRETTY POLLY” HERE “I grew up playing and singing ‘Pretty Polly.’ I was really proud to have learned a unique version of it in the ‘overhand’ banjo style from my grandfather in Kentucky. One evening I was singing it during a soundcheck and heard the words ‘he stabbed her through the heart and her heart’s blood did flow’ coming out of my mouth… and I just stopped cold in the middle of the verse. I thought about my grandmother, my mother, my daughters. I thought about pervasive violence against women and the way men are given the bulk of the story in songs like these, and often some kind of twisted romantic glory or sympathy, and I said to myself, ‘I’m never singing this song again.’... " https://dirkpowellmusic.bandcamp.com/album/when-i-wait-for-you I Ain’t Playing Pretty Polly When I was a young boy, my papaw played me songs He’d sing that Pretty Polly, and I’d listen all night long Those sounds went straight into my soul, sitting on his cabin floor But I ain’t playing Pretty Polly anymore When Granny was a young girl, she had to hold her own She told my little sister, don’t get with a man alone Down in the Willow Garden, wasn't ... [unfortunately I don't see how to access the lyrics on the bandcamp page ; maybe I'd find them if I sign up at the page?] |
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15 Mar 21 - 10:41 AM (#4097758) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pretty Polly? From: GUEST,# From https://dirkpowellmusic.bandcamp.com/track/i-aint-playing-pretty-polly I Ain’t Playing Pretty Polly When I was a young boy, my papaw played me songs He’d sing that Pretty Polly, and I’d listen all night long Those sounds went straight into my soul, sitting on his cabin floor But I ain’t playing Pretty Polly anymore When Granny was a young girl, she had to hold her own She told my little sister, don’t get with a man alone Down in the Willow Garden, wasn’t some old metaphor So I ain’t playing Willow Garden anymore Chorus: I ain’t playing Pretty Polly or Rosalie McFall I ain’t playing Knoxville Girl, no, none of them at all No more tales of women killed by drunken violent men They don’t deserve their stories told, I won’t raise my voice again I ain’t playing Pretty Polly anymore Cause I know some stories, men like my Uncle Clyde He spent seven decades at my Aunt Myrtle’s side Kentucky teens who fell in love in 1934 They had to leave the mountains to find work in Baltimore She tended their young family while he fought for them in the war And she still holds his picture and looks for him at the door Though she just turned 100 and he passed 12 years before So I ain’t playing Pretty Polly anymore credits from When I Wait For You, track released August 5, 2020 license all rights reserved |
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15 Mar 21 - 11:18 AM (#4097765) Subject: RE: Origins/versions: Pretty Polly? From: GUEST,Felipa thanks. Guest#. And I see that what I needed to do on the album page was to click on the song track/song title. |
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15 Mar 21 - 11:43 AM (#4097772) Subject: RE: Origins/versions: Pretty Polly? From: GUEST,# You are welcome, Felipa. That is an extremely powerful song. I think it deserves a thread of its own. Thanks for finding it. |
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15 Mar 21 - 03:07 PM (#4097804) Subject: RE: Origins/versions: Pretty Polly? From: Steve Gardham Whilst I very much like your song, Felipa, there is no glory for the murderer in the ballad and he gets suitable retribution. The sad thing is these things still happen and they need to be reported for everyone to be made aware that this sort of violence is a part of human nature and unfortunately always will be. The more people who are aware that these things can happen the more we can be on the alert against it. If we always bury it underground as the politicians would sometimes have it, we are denying reality and almost allowing it to happen. I can understand anyone not wanting to sing a ballad that includes violence and in a round about way your song highlights these bad events by mentioning them. These ballads when they were written were poor people's newspapers. The ballad does not sensationalise the murder, the description is brief and generic, unlike a lot of gutter press reports of today. The subject is very appropriate to the last few days as a young girl was brutally murdered in London sparking all sorts of protests. Should the press not have reported it? What I am clumsily trying to say is that this probably fictitious ballad is very relevant still today and IMO we shouldn't shy away from the subject, as long as there is no condoning or glorification or attempt at justifying the cruel actions. |
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15 Mar 21 - 03:25 PM (#4097809) Subject: RE: Origins/versions: Pretty Polly? From: Steve Gardham >>>>They don’t deserve their stories told,<<<< What about the victims? Don't they deserve their stories told? |
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16 Mar 21 - 04:38 PM (#4097963) Subject: RE: Origins/versions: Pretty Polly? From: GUEST,Hootenanny The PC world again. Don't sing songs about violence, don't play a fiddle tune that was once used for words that some people think of as racist which probably came from Minstrelsy. Don't play the tune used for a song thought of as the Confederate anthem which actually originates with a black family from way up north. The reason that this material has lasted so long is because people like it. If folks start following these ideas then they are soon going to run out of repertoire or have to get into teeny pop. |
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16 Mar 21 - 05:06 PM (#4097968) Subject: RE: Origins/versions: Pretty Polly? From: Felipa It's not my song, I only shared it. Don't shoot the messenger. I am happy to have stimulated some discussion. |
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16 Mar 21 - 06:02 PM (#4097981) Subject: RE: Origins/versions: Pretty Polly? From: Steve Gardham Apologies, Felipa. I shouldn't have called it 'your song' and my rant was aimed at Dirk, although I can certainly understand his reasons for not wanting to sing the ballad any more. There are some ballads no matter if they were written a millennium ago that need very careful handling as they do sometimes perpetuate stereotypes that can be very offensive. |
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16 Mar 21 - 06:33 PM (#4097988) Subject: RE: Origins/versions: Pretty Polly? From: GUEST,henryp Pretty Polly (trad.) There used to be a gambler who courted all around There used to be a gambler who courted all around He courted pretty Polly, such beauty'd never been found Pretty Polly, pretty Polly, come go along with me Pretty Polly, pretty Polly, come go along with me Before we get married some pleasures to see She jumped up behind him and away they did go She jumped up behind him and away they did go Down into the valley that was far below He rode her over hills and valleys so deep He rode her over hills and valleys so deep Pretty Polly mistrusted and then began to weep They went a little further and what did they spy? They went a little further and what did they spy? But a newly-dug grave with a spade lying by Oh Willy, hey Willy, I'm afraid of your ways Oh Willy, hey Willy, I'm afraid of your ways I'm afraid you will lead my poor body astray Pretty Polly, pretty Polly, your guess is about right Pretty Polly, pretty Polly, your guess is about right I've dug on your grave the better part of last night She knelt down before him pleading for her life She knelt down before him pleading for her life Please let me be a single girl if I can't be your wife Then he stabbed her in the heart till her heart's blood did flow He stabbed her in the heart till her heart's blood did flow And into the grave pretty Polly did go He threw something over her and turned to go home He threw something over her and turned to go home Leaving nothing behind him but the girl left to mourn He went down to the jailhouse and what did he say? He went down to the jailhouse and what did he say? I killed pretty Polly and tried to get away Now gentlemen and ladies, I bid you farewell Now gentlemen and ladies I bid you farewell For killing pretty Polly my soul will go to hell Now a debt to the devil that Willy must pay A dept to the devil that Willy must pay For killing pretty Polly and running away Outtake from The Byrds "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" 1968 Roger McGuinn "Cardiff Rose" 1976 |
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17 Mar 21 - 03:38 PM (#4098084) Subject: RE: Origins/versions: Pretty Polly? From: GUEST The name reminded me of a song we recorded in the Byrds on the "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" album called "Pretty Polly." I'd known the song since my days at the Old Town School of Folk Music [in Chicago] and had always loved the modal tuning on the banjo and guitar in spite of the morbid lyrics. This is a good example of a song used for spreading the news of the day, way back before radio, television or the Internet. The content of the news today is however strikingly similar. Folk Den, Roger McGuinn |