Dock Boggs, Pretty Polly

C'est sur Pretty Polly, une chanson enregistrée en 1927 à New York par Dock Boggs (voix et banjo), que s'ouvre la compilation Appalachian on 78 rpm. Une sordide histoire... noire de chez noir qui aurait eu sa place dans le Murder Ballads (Mute Records, 1996) de Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds.


Pretty Polly (version de Dock Boggs - source Long Time Coming)

Oh, I used to be a rambler, I stayed around in the town,
Oh, I used to be a rambler, I stayed around in the town,
I courted Pretty Polly, such a beauty's never been found.

Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, oh yonder she stands,
Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, oh yonder she stands,
With rings on her fingers and lily white hands.

Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, come take a walk with me,
Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, come take a walk with me,
Oh when we get married, some pleasure to see.

He led her over hills and valleys so deep,
He led her over hills and valleys so deep,
At length, Pretty Polly, she began to weep.

Oh Willy, oh Willy, I'm afraid of your ways,
Oh Willy, oh Willy, I'm afraid of your ways,
Your mind is to ramble and lead me astray.

Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, you're guessing about right,
Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, you're guessing about right,
I dug on your grave, two thirds of last night.

She went on a piece further and what did she spy,
She went on a piece further and what did she spy,
A new dug grave and a spade lying by.

She threw her arms around him, began for to weep,
She threw her arms around him, began for to weep,
At length Pretty Polly soon fell asleep.


Dock Boggs interprète Pretty Polly avec une mise en scène de Jonas Tarestad.