Pretty Polly
Clinch Mountain Boys Lyrics
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Polly, Pretty Polly, would you take me unkind
Let me set beside you and tell you my mind
Well my mind is to marry and never to part
My mind is to marry and never to part
The first time I saw you it wounded my heart
Polly Pretty Polly come go along with me
Before we get married some pleasures to see
Oh he led her over mountains and valleys so deep
He led her over hills and valleys so deep
Pretty Polly mistrusted and then began to weep
Oh Willie, Little Willie, I'm afraid to of your ways
Willie, Little Willie, I'm afraid of your ways
The way you've been rambling you'll lead me astray
Oh Polly, Pretty Polly, your guess is about right
Polly, Pretty Polly, your guess is about right
I dug on your grave the biggest part of last night
Oh she knelt down before him a pleading for her life
She knelt down before him a pleading for her life
Let me be a single girl if I can't be your wife
Oh Polly, Pretty Polly that never can be
Polly, Pretty Polly that never can be
Your past recitation's been trouble to me
Oh went down to the jailhouse and what did he say
He went down to the jailhouse and what did he say
I've killed Pretty Polly and trying to get away
The song 'Pretty Polly' by the Clinch Mountain Boys/Ralph Stanley is a folk song about a man who asks Polly to marry him. He implores her to let him sit beside her and share his mind. He then expresses his desire to marry her and never part. He tells her about the first time he saw her and how it had wounded his heart. He invites her to go on a journey with him to see some pleasures before they get married.
As they go over mountains and valleys, Polly begins to mistrust him and weeps. She expresses her fear of Willie's ways and how he might lead her astray. Willie pacifies her by agreeing that her guess is about right, and he dug her grave the biggest part of last night. Polly is horrified and pleads with Willie for her life. She tells him that she would rather be a single girl than be his wife.
Willie tells Polly that it can never be so and that her past recitation has been a trouble to him. The song ends with Willie confessing to having killed Pretty Polly and trying to get away.
This song has been interpreted as a cautionary tale against the dangers of trusting strangers. It is a tale about a woman who is drawn in by the false promises of a man and pays the ultimate price for her trust. The song has been performed by many artists over the years, including Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Gillian Welch.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Polly, Pretty Polly, would you take me unkind
Will you reject me, Pretty Polly?
Polly, Pretty Polly, would you take me unkind
Will you reject me, Pretty Polly?
Let me set beside you and tell you my mind
Allow me to sit next to you and share my thoughts.
Well my mind is to marry and never to part
I wish to marry and remain together forever.
My mind is to marry and never to part
I wish to marry and remain together forever.
The first time I saw you it wounded my heart
When I first saw you, my heart was deeply affected.
Oh Polly Pretty Polly come go along with me
Pretty Polly, come with me on a journey.
Polly Pretty Polly come go along with me
Pretty Polly, come with me on a journey.
Before we get married some pleasures to see
Let's enjoy a few pleasures before we wed.
Oh he led her over mountains and valleys so deep
He led her through treacherous terrain.
He led her over hills and valleys so deep
He led her through treacherous terrain.
Pretty Polly mistrusted and then began to weep
Pretty Polly became suspicious and started crying.
Oh Willie, Little Willie, I'm afraid to of your ways
Willie, I fear how you behave.
Willie, Little Willie, I'm afraid of your ways
Willie, I fear how you behave.
The way you've been rambling you'll lead me astray
Your wandering nature may cause me harm.
Oh Polly, Pretty Polly, your guess is about right
You're correct, Pretty Polly.
Polly, Pretty Polly, your guess is about right
You're correct, Pretty Polly.
I dug on your grave the biggest part of last night
I spent most of the night digging your grave.
Oh she knelt down before him a pleading for her life
She begged him for her life, kneeling before him.
She knelt down before him a pleading for her life
She begged him for her life, kneeling before him.
Let me be a single girl if I can't be your wife
If I cannot be your wife, let me remain unmarried.
Oh Polly, Pretty Polly that never can be
That cannot happen, Pretty Polly.
Polly, Pretty Polly that never can be
That cannot happen, Pretty Polly.
Your past recitation's been trouble to me
Your past behavior has caused problems for me.
Oh went down to the jailhouse and what did he say
He went to the jail and said what?
He went down to the jailhouse and what did he say
He went to the jail and said what?
I've killed Pretty Polly and trying to get away
I killed Pretty Polly and am trying to flee.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: B.F. SHELTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind