Tilston is the daughter of acclaimed songwriter Steve Tilston and step-daughter of singer Maggie Boyle. She began writing songs at an early age. After attending drama school, she formed Mouse with guitarist Nick Marshall. They released two albums: Helicopter Trees (2000) and Tales (2001), and played many gigs and festivals throughout the UK and Ireland. Martha's solo debut, Rolling, was self-released in 2003, followed by Bimbling in 2004. In 2005 she assembled The Woods, including members of Semble, to record Ropeswing, which was given away as a free download. 2006 saw a full UK tour and the release of Of Milkmaids And Architects, which earned her a nomination for best new act in the BBC Folk Awards.
Her album Lucy And The Wolves was released in April 2010, and she spent the remainder of that year spent playing live, including supporting Beth Nielsen Chapman on her UK dates.
Her album Machines of Love and Grace was released in 2012.
http://www.marthatilston.co.uk
Polly Vaughan
Martha Tilston Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
beware you shoot as the nights drawing on
young jimmy met his true love
mistook her for a swan
and he shot her and killed her
by the setting of the sun
then home ran young jimmy
crying uncle oh uncle
have you heard what I've done
I met my own true love
mistook her for a swan
and now I've shot her and killed her
by the setting of the sun
so out runs jimmy's uncle
with his locks hanging gray
crying jimmy oh dear jimmy
don't you run away
don't leave your own country
till the trial do come on
sure they never will hang you
for the shooting of a swan
all the girls of this country
are glad we know
to see young polly vaughan
brought down so low
and you can take all them cruel girls
and set them in a row
and her beauty would outshine 'em
like a fountain of snow
and her beauty would outshine 'em
like a fountain of snow
The song "Polly Vaughan" by Martha Tilston is a Scottish ballad that tells the tragic story of a young man named Jimmy who accidentally shoots and kills his own true love, mistaking her for a swan. Jimmy's grief and guilt consume him as he runs home to tell his uncle what happened. His uncle encourages him not to flee but to stay and face the trial because they would never hang him for shooting a swan. The ballad ends with the singer commenting on the beauty of Polly Vaughan and how no other women compare to her.
The lyrics of this song are clear in their storytelling, and the emotions of the main character are relatable despite the time period and setting of the story. There is a sense of tragedy throughout the song, from the moment Jimmy mistakes his love for a swan to the bitter end where Polly Vaughan's beauty is remembered as the only positive note among the sadness. The song highlights how easy it is for tragedy to occur when there is a lack of caution and attentiveness.
Line by Line Meaning
come all you young fellows that handle a gun
Hey, everyone who handles a gun, listen up
beware you shoot as the nights drawing on
Be careful shooting when it's getting dark outside
young jimmy met his true love
Jimmy met his real love interest
mistook her for a swan
He thought she was a swan
and he shot her and killed her
He accidentally killed her with his gun
by the setting of the sun
This happened as the sun was going down
then home ran young jimmy
Jimmy fled the scene and ran back home
with his dog and his gun
He brought his dog and gun along with him
crying uncle oh uncle
Jimmy cried out to his uncle
have you heard what I've done
Asking if his uncle knew about his mistake
I met my own true love
Jimmy explains how he met the victim
mistook her for a swan
He repeats his mistake
and now I've shot her and killed her
He confesses to his uncle about what happened
so out runs jimmy's uncle
Jimmy's uncle rushes out to him
with his locks hanging gray
He has grey hair
crying jimmy oh dear jimmy
His uncle cries out hoping to calm him down
don't you run away
His uncle tries to persuade Jimmy to stay
don't leave your own country
Telling Jimmy to stay in the local area
till the trial do come on
Jimmy should wait until his trial date
sure they never will hang you
His uncle's hopeful that Jimmy won't be punished severely
for the shooting of a swan
Shooting a swan is not a serious crime
all the girls of this country
All the young women in the area
are glad we know
They're happy about what happened to Polly Vaughan
to see young polly vaughan
They take pleasure in seeing Polly Vaughan suffer
brought down so low
Polly Vaughan's fall from grace
and you can take all them cruel girls
All the mean-spirited girls
and set them in a row
They can be lined up together
and her beauty would outshine 'em
Polly Vaughan's beauty is unmatched
like a fountain of snow
Her beauty is pure and bright, like falling snow
and her beauty would outshine 'em
Reiterating Polly Vaughan's exceptional beauty
like a fountain of snow
Her beauty is still being compared to falling snow
Contributed by Ruby V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.