From the mid-1950s until 1975, Estil Cortez Ball performed with his wife Orna and their Friendly Gospel Singers in churches and on the radio, especially on WKSK (AM) in West Jefferson, North Carolina and WBOB (AM) in Galax, Virginia. Ball's first recordings were made by John A. Lomax on behalf of the Library of Congress at the 1937 Galax Fiddler's Convention in Galax, Virginia, where E.C. performed with his Rugby Gully Jumpers string band (named after Paul Warmack's Gully Jumpers). Lomax recorded the string band and several duets by E.C. and Orna. John's son Alan Lomax recorded Ball three years later, in 1941, at E.C.'s home in Rugby, Virginia, and there again in 1959.
County Records released Ball's first LP in 1967, as E.C. Ball and the Friendly Gospel Singers. Two more LPs followed in the 1970s on Rounder Records: E.C. Ball and Fathers Have A Home Sweet Home. Ball was also recorded by John Cohen for his 1975 compilation album High Atmosphere: Ballads and Banjo Tunes from Virginia and North Carolina.
E.C. Ball's most famous composition was a piece he called "Tribulations," based, as he told Alan Lomax in 1959, "on the last book in the Bible: Revelations." It has been frequently covered by other musicians as "Trials, Troubles, Tribulations."
Ball died in 1978 in Grassy Creek, North Carolina, and is buried at Corinth Baptist Church in Rugby, Grayson County, Virginia.
In December 2009, a tribute album was released entitled Face A Frowning World: An E.C. Ball Memorial Album, on the Tompkins Square label, produced by Nathan Salsburg. Singers interpreting songs from E.C.'s repertoire include Jolie Holland, Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Jon Langford, the Handsome Family, Rayna Gellert, and Catherine Irwin, among others.
Pretty Polly
E.C. Ball Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Polly, pretty Polly, come go along with me
Before we get married, some pleasure to see"
She got up behind him, and away they did go
She got up behind him, and away they did go
Over the hills, through the valleys so low
They went up a little farther, and what did they spy?
A new-dug grave with a spade lying by
He stabbed her through the heart, her heart blood, it did flow
He stabbed her through the heart, her heart blood, it 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 there to mourn
"Gentlemen and ladies, I'll bid you farewell
Gentlemen and ladies, I'll bid you farewell
For killing pretty Polly will send my soul to hell"
The song "Pretty Polly" is a traditional ballad that recounts the story of a young woman named Polly who gets lured into a deadly trap by a man who promises to marry her. The song starts with the man calling out to Polly to come with him, convincing her that they should have some fun before they get married. Polly agrees to go with him, getting on his horse, and they ride through hills and valleys until they spot a new-dug grave with a spade lying by. It becomes clear that the man intended to kill her all along, and he stabs her through the heart, leaves her in the grave and lies to her mourners.
This song speaks of the possible danger that lies in the promised offers of pleasure that come from strangers, manipulation and the destruction of trust. The man in the song represents evil and betrayal as he lures Polly with false promises before killing her, leaving her in a grave. The song can be seen as a warning to young women against trusting men they do not know well enough to make promises to them.
Line by Line Meaning
Polly, pretty Polly, come go along with me
The singer invites Polly to accompany him.
Before we get married, some pleasure to see
The singer asks Polly to go on a trip with him before they get married.
She got up behind him, and away they did go
Polly got on the singer's horse and they rode away.
Over the hills, through the valleys so low
They rode through the hills and valleys.
They went up a little farther, and what did they spy?
As they continued their journey, they saw something up ahead.
A new-dug grave with a spade lying by
They saw a freshly dug grave with a spade left beside it.
He stabbed her through the heart, her heart blood, it did flow
The singer stabbed Polly in the heart and blood flowed from the wound.
And into the grave pretty Polly did go
The singer put Polly's body into the grave.
He threw something over her and turned to go home
The singer covered Polly's body with something and left to go home.
Leaving nothing behind him but the girl there to mourn
The only thing left for Polly was the sadness of being alone and unloved.
Gentlemen and ladies, I'll bid you farewell
The singer says goodbye to the audience.
For killing pretty Polly will send my soul to hell
The singer admits that he will go to hell for killing Polly.
Contributed by Jason R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.