Patty Loveless and Ralph Stanley, "Pretty Polly"

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Two of the finest folk singers in America. Brilliant country hill singers, with perfect voices for the genre. This is a very old and frightening song. Violence, betrayal murder...If it had come along 150 years later, it would have made an American TV show.! A very old ballad, found in Appalachia and in the British Isles, where it certainly originated long ago. It was known by several names, including "The Gosport Tragedy," and has been recorded by many artists, including Judy Collins in 1968. The theme is the murder of Pretty Polly, in some versions because she is pregnant, in others (like this one) because she is so clueless as to hang out with trash like Willy, inviting disaster. (Not that she was so much herself...there seems to be a past history here—"Your past reputation's been trouble to me"!, and also the word 'unkind!', which seems to be a floating separated adjective referring to Polly). I include the lyrics for those whose native language is not English. And even for those who are native English speakers, the language can still be a little hard to understand in spots if you did not grow up where the dialect and music were common. This is one of the best versions ever recorded. Here are the lyrics:
Oh Polly, Pretty Polly, would you take me—unkind!
Polly, Pretty Polly, would you take me,--unkind!
for you to set beside me and tell me your 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, you wounded my heart.
Oh Polly Pretty Polly come and go along with me.
Polly Pretty Polly come and go along with me.
Before we get married some pleasure to seek.
Well he led her over mountains and valleys so deep.
Led her over mountains and valleys so deep.
Polly mistrusted and then began to weep.
Sayin' Willie, Little Willie, I'm afraid of your ways.
Willie, Little Willie, I'm afraid of your ways.
The way you've been rambling you'll lead me astray.
Well 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.
Well he led her a little farther and what did she spy.
He led her a little farther and what did she spy.
A new dug grave with a spade lying by.
Then she knelt down before him a pleadin' for her life.
She knelt down before him a pleadin' for her life.
Rather be a single girl if I can't be your wife.
Now Polly, Pretty Polly that never can be.
Polly, Pretty Polly that never can be.
Your past reputation's been trouble to me.
Then he opened up her bosom,
As white as any snow
Then he opened up her bosom
As white as any snow.
And stabbed her through the heart.
And the blood did overflow.

Then he went down to the jailhouse and what did he say.
He went to the jailhouse and what did he say.
I've killed Pretty Polly and trying to get away.