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about

Traditional. Well known woman-gets-murdered ballad. Tommy loved to hear us sing it and we would always request it when we visited him. He would often experiment with different tunings from the ones he usually used, and this was one.

Recorded by Mike Seeger at Tommy Jarrell's home near Mt Airy, NC in 1979.

lyrics

I used to be a rounder I’ve stayed around in town
I courted pretty Polly, such beauty’s never been found.

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
Over the hills to the valleys so low.

They went a piece farther and what did they spy
A new dug grave with a spade lying by.

Oh Willie sweet Willie I’m afraid of your ways
Afraid you will lead my poor body astray

Polly pretty Polly you’re guessin’ about right
I dug on your grave the biggest part of last night

He stabbed her to the heart and her heart’s blood did flow
And into the grave pretty Polly did go.

He threw some dirt over her and turned away to go
Leavin nothing but the wild birds and turtle doves to mourn.

credits

from Bowling Green, released January 1, 2008
Vocal duet
Tommy Jarrell-fiddle DDAD
Mike-Vocal, banjo f#DGAD
Alice-Vocal, guitar

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all rights reserved

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about

Alice Gerrard Durham, North Carolina

A singer and songwriter, Alice’s recordings with Hazel Dickens during the 1960s and ’70s influenced a generation of women musicians from Laurie Lewis to the Judds. Nominated for a Grammy in 2015, she was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Assoc. Hall of Fame in 2017. A documentary film about Alice, "You Gave Me a Song" premiered at the Full Frame Independent Film Festival in 2019. ... more

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