Four of the recordings survive today, "Darling Cora", "Pretty Polly", "Oh Molly Dear" and "Cold Penitentiary Blues". He never recorded again. Shelton was born in 1902 in Clay County, Kentucky and died in 1963.
Pretty Polly
B.F. Shelton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly would you think it unkind
If I sat down beside you and told you my mind?
I courted Pretty Polly the live-long night
I courted Pretty Polly the live-long night
Until it was next morning before it was light
I led her over hills to the valley so deep
At last Pretty Polly's beginning to weep
"Come on Pretty Polly, and go along with me
Come on Pretty Polly, and go along with me
Before we get married, some pleasure to see
Oh Willie, sweet Willie, I fear from your ways
Oh Willy, oh Willy, I fear from your ways
The way you are ramblin' it's making me afraid
She went a piece farther (to) see what she could spy
She went a piece farther (to) see what she could spy
A new dug grave and a spade lying by
Had no time *weep and no time there to stand
Had no time weep and no time there to stand
He drew a knife holding in his right hand
"Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, you're guessing just right
Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, you're guessing about right
I dug on your grave six long hours all last night
She threw her arms around him and suffered no tears
She threw her arms around him and suffered no tears
How can you kill a girl that loves you so dear?
He stabbed her through the heart, her hearts blood did flow
He stabbed her through the heart, her hearts blood it did flow
And into the grave Prettty Polly did go
Oh Willie, sweet Willie turn loose my hand
Willie, sweet Willie turn loose my hand
You see my heart's blood running around where you stand
He threw the dirt over her and turned to go home
Threw the dirt over her and turned to go home
Leaving nothing behind him but the birds for to mourn
The song "Pretty Polly" by B.F. Shelton tells the story of a man, Willie, who courts and convinces a woman, Pretty Polly, to come away with him. However, their journey leads them to a graveyard where Willie reveals that he has dug a grave for her. The song is a tragic tale of deception, murder, and remorse.
The lyrics themselves show a progression of events, from Willie's initial courtship of Pretty Polly, to the discovery of the grave and the horrific act of murder, to the aftermath of the deed. The lyrics are simple and straightforward, yet powerful in their storytelling. The repetition of certain phrases, such as "Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly" and "Willie, sweet Willie," emphasize the emotional weight of the situation and add to the haunting quality of the song.
A notable feature of "Pretty Polly" is its roots in traditional balladry, a genre of storytelling that has been passed down orally through generations. The song has many different variations, with different artists adding their own spin on the lyrics and melody. Despite this, the central story of deception and murder remains the same. "Pretty Polly" has been covered by numerous artists over the years, including Ralph Stanley, Bob Dylan, and The Byrds.
Line by Line Meaning
Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly would you think it unkind
Asking for permission to share his thoughts with Polly without offending her
If I sat down beside you and told you my mind?
Asking for Polly's attention to share his thoughts with her
I courted Pretty Polly the live-long night
He spent the entire night courting Pretty Polly
Until it was next morning before it was light
The courtship went on until the break of dawn
I led her over hills to valleys so deep
He took Pretty Polly for a romantic walk in the hills and valleys
At last Pretty Polly's beginning to weep
Pretty Polly started crying for an unknown reason
Come on Pretty Polly, and go along with me
He urges Pretty Polly to come along with him
Before we get married, some pleasure to see
He wants to show Pretty Polly a good time before getting married
Oh Willie, sweet Willie, I fear from your ways
Pretty Polly expresses fear about Willie's unpredictable behavior
The way you are ramblin' it's making me afraid
Pretty Polly is afraid of Willie's traveling and wandering ways
She went a piece farther (to) see what she could spy
Pretty Polly went a little further to investigate something she saw
A new dug grave and a spade lying by
Pretty Polly found a freshly dug grave with a shovel lying nearby
Had no time *weep and no time there to stand
Willie didn't want to spend any more time in that spot
He drew a knife holding in his right hand
Willie took out a knife from his right hand
Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, you're guessing just right
Willie admits that Pretty Polly guessed correctly about the grave
I dug on your grave six long hours all last night
Willie reveals that he dug Pretty Polly's grave for six hours
She threw her arms around him and suffered no tears
In a shocking twist, Pretty Polly embraces Willie without shedding tears
How can you kill a girl that loves you so dear?
Pretty Polly makes a desperate plea for her life
He stabbed her through the heart, her heart's blood did flow
Willie murders Pretty Polly by stabbing her in the heart
And into the grave Pretty Polly did go
Willie puts Pretty Polly's lifeless body into the grave he dug for her
Oh Willie, sweet Willie turn loose my hand
Even in death, Pretty Polly's hand is still clutching Willie's hand
Willie, sweet Willie turn loose my hand
Polly implores Willie to let go of her hand
You see my heart's blood running around where you stand
Pretty Polly's blood is pooling around Willie's feet
He threw the dirt over her and turned to go home
Willie buries Pretty Polly and leaves without looking back
Leaving nothing behind him but the birds for to mourn
The birds are the only ones left to mourn Pretty Polly's untimely death
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: O'SULLIVAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@thebrazilianatlantis165
We see 1902 but he was born in 1900 per his death certificate, which fits with the 1910 census.