Indeed Pretty Polly

Indeed, pretty Polly, I once loved you dearly
And in your sweet company I took great delight.
When a man is once wed, his joy is all fled
He is freed from all liberty,
Bound down to hard slavery.
So we are both free, love, I will bid you good night.

But indeed, pretty Polly, there is one thing I would tell you,
That is to ask me to your wedding, love, and I will do the same.
For you need never mind a husband you will find
If there's any such a thing,
If there's any such a thing,
If there's any such a thing in this world to be had.

So she wrote him a letter to come to her wedding,
To come to her wedding on the ninth day of June.
This letter he reads and his poor heart did bleed,
Crying, "I have lost her,"
Crying, "I have lost her,"
Crying, "I have lost her, I have lost her indeed!"

With his bridle and saddle he rode to her station,
He rode to the place where pretty Polly did dwell.
And when he got there through his troubles and snares,
The bride and the bridegroom,
The bride and the bridegroom,
The bride and the bridegroom was out on the floor.

"O indeed, pretty Polly, if l only had of known it,
If I only had of known, love, that you'd be wedded so soon,
We would have married, no longer have tarried,
So step up beside me, love,
So step up beside me, love,
So step up beside me, love, and leave him alone."

"O indeed, pretty William, I once loved you dearly,
And in your sweet company I took great delight.
But remember you said when a man was once wed,
He was freed from all liberty,
Bound down to hard slavery,
So we are both free, love, and I'll bid you goodnight!"

(traditional North Carolina)
One of the songs that Anne and Frank Warner collected from
Tink Tillett on the outer banks of North Carolina.
I like its portrayal of a young woman who is strong,
but not bitter towards her misguided young William.

from the singing of Judy Cook
SOF
OCT98