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Pretty Polly

from Some Distant Shore by A Different Thread

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about

Pretty Polly is an age-old murder ballad from England that tells a tragic tale of betrayal and revenge, with memorable recordings from the likes of Bert Jansch and Peggy Seeger.

"It's an English song from long ago. I learned the Appalachian version as an acapella song. The lyrics are so potent that we wanted to enchance them with music.
-Alicia Best

“Alicia sang ‘Pretty Polly’ for me shortly after we met,” says Jackson. “The whole pub went completely silent and I was immediately transported by the lyrics. We added an upbeat Piedmont blues section, inspired by the likes of North Carolina Artists Reverend Gary Davis and Doc Watson".
- Robert Jackson

The official music video pays homage to '70s horror movies. Check it out via this url:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEgQYKM-344

lyrics

Polly pretty Polly won’t you come along with me
Polly pretty Polly won’t you come along with me
Before we get married, some pleasures to see

She climbed up behind him and away they did ride
She climbed up behind him and away they did ride
Over valleys so low and mountains so high

Willy, oh Willy I’m afraid of your ways
Willy, oh Willy I’m afraid of your ways
The way we’ve been riding will lead us astray

Polly, pretty Polly, your guess is about right
Polly, pretty Polly, your guess is about right
I dug on your grave the best part of last night

They rode up a little further and what did they spy
They rode up a little further and what did they spy
A newly dug grave with a spade lyin’ by

She got down on her knees and she begged for her life
She got down on her knees and she begged for her life
Sayin’ let me live a single girl if I can’t be your wife

He stabbed her through the heart and her life’s blood did flow
He stabbed her through the heart and her life’s blood did flow
And into the grave, her fair body did throw

The queen called for sailors to go out to sea
The queen called for sailors to go out to sea
Young William enlisted quite eagerly

’Twas early one morning before the break of day
’Twas early one morning and the captain did say
There’s a murderer onboard and the ship she won’t sway

Then up jumped one sailor, indeed sir, not I
Up jumped another, said, indeed sir, not I
Then up jumped young William to storm, curse. and cry

Then Willy turned yellow, then purple, then green
Then Willy turned yellow, then purple, then green
For before him the ghost of pretty Polly’d been seen

She ripped him, she stripped him, she tore him in three
She ripped him, she stripped him, she tore him in three
Sayin’ that’s for the death of my baby and me

credits

from Some Distant Shore, released May 22, 2020
Robert Jackson - Vocals, guitar
Alicia Best - Vocals, fiddle
Richard Allen - Upright bass

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A Different Thread North Carolina

“Warm, deep singer-songwriters who have drank from the well of 20th century tradition” - Folk Radio UK

A Different Thread, is the collaboration between Robert Jackson from Lichfield, England, and Alicia Best from Durham, North Carolina, USA. Both traveling songwriters in their own right, they first met while busking in Galway, Ireland, back in 2016 and have been touring together ever since.
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