Pretty Polly

Go ahead, give it a listen, I'll wait.

Were you not the least bit creeped out by Bogg's slightly tinny slurry voice, the singular banjo picking, and the ever-present old vinyl-esque audio crackle?  The audio of the song is creepy enough in itself but once you actually listen to the lyrics, it gets worse.

I used to be a rambler, I stayed around this town
I used to be a rambler, I stayed around in town
I courted Pretty Polly and the beauty has never been found

Oh where is Pretty Polly, oh yonder she stands
Oh where is Pretty Polly, oh yonder she stands
With rings on her fingers and lily-white hands

Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly come take a walk with me
Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly come take a walk with me
When we get married some pleasure to see

He led her over hills and valleys so deep
He led her over hills and valleys so deep
At last Pretty Polly, she began to weep

Oh Willie oh Willie I'm 'fraid of your way
Willie oh Willie I'm 'fraid of your way
All minding to ramble and lead me astray

Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly you guessin' about right
Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly you guessin' about right
I dug on your grave two-thirds of last night

They went on a piece farther and what did they spy?
Went on up a piece farther and what did they spy?
A new-dug grave and a spade lying by
 
She threw her arms around him and began for to weep
She threw her arms around him and began for to weep
At last Pretty Polly, she fell asleep

He threw the dirt over her, and turned away to go
Threw the dirt over her, and turned away to go
Down to the river where the deep water flow
 
There have been at least 30 covers done of "Pretty Polly" ranging from Dock Boggs to The Byrds, The Dillards, Judy Collins, and even The String Cheese Incident.  Bob Dylan's chords, tune, and verse structure of "Ballad of Hollis Brown" is also based on "Pretty Polly."


Murder ballads made up a significant portion of traditional ballads dating back to the mid 17th century, originating in Scandinavia, England, and Scotland.  Interestingly American versions of murder ballads are often spun off of the Old World versions but with supernatural elements such as vengeant ghosts generally omitted.

The earliest known version of the Pretty Polly story, titled The Gosport Tragedy, was printed around 1750.  In essence, Willie, a ship's carpenter, has gotten Polly pregnant.  He bids her to take a walk with him to make plans for their wedding.  As they are walking, they stumble along a newly dug grave.  Willie kills Polly and buries her.  In the American version, Polly's pregnancy is often omitted.  Perhaps they feel it is too controversial for a man to kill his pregnant fiancee, but tossing her in a shallow grave while not pregnant is perfectly acceptable.  I digress...

Many American versions of the song also omit the second act of The Gosport Tragedy.  Willie went to sea, but was not left in peace for long. The ship was not far from land when a girl with a child in her arms appeared on board. The lookout, who was half-drunk, ran to embrace her, and found it was a ghost.  The captain seeks out the murderer, Willie, who goes mad and dies.  Some later versions of the ballad were shorter and more pointed. In these, Polly's ghost did not merely seek out Willie, but took it upon herself to avenge her death and carried him away from the ship or even tore him to pieces.

The website Planet Slade gives an amazing 15 page in-depth review of the song, its origins, its covers, and its various points of view throughout history.  There are alternate versions of the song performed that make Willie's murder of Polly appear more premeditated than the original version, singing such chilling lyrics as:

“Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, your guess is just right,
Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, your guess is just right,
I dug on your grave six long hours of last night.”

and

“Oh Polly, Pretty Polly, that never can be,
Polly, Pretty Polly that never can be,
Your past reputation’s been trouble to me.”

Pretty Polly In-Depth Review




For kicks and giggles, I've also included Kevin Spacey's/Francis Underwood's own spin on the tune from House of Cards, because who doesn't want to be serenaded with "Pretty Polly" as you share your nightly cigarette on the windowsill?

- Amanda