There used to be a gambler who courted all around There used to be a gambler who courted all around He courted Pretty Polly, such beauty'd never been found Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, come go along with me Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, come go along with me Before we get married some pleasures to see She jumped up behind him and away they did go She jumped up behind him and away they did go Down into the valley that was far below He rode her over hills and valleys so deep He rode her over hills and valleys so deep Pretty Polly mistrusted and then began to weep They went a little further and what did they spy? They went a little further and what did they spy? But a newly-dug grave with a spade lying by Oh Willy, hey Willy, I'm afraid of your ways Oh Willy, hey Willy, I'm afraid of your ways I'm afraid you will lead my poor body astray Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, your guess is about right Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, your guess is about right I've dug on your grave the better part of last night She knelt down before him pleading for her life She knelt down before him pleading for her life Please let me be a single girl if I can't be your wife Then he stabbed her in the heart till her heart's blood did flow He stabbed her in the heart till her heart's blood did flow And into the grave Pretty Polly did go He threw something over her and turned to go home He threw something over her and turned to go home Leaving nothing behind him but the girl left to mourn He went down to the jailhouse and what did he say He went down to the jailhouse and what did he say I killed Pretty Polly and tried to get away Now gentlemen and ladies, I bid you farewell Now gentlemen and ladies I bid you farewell For killing Pretty Polly my soul will go to hell Now a debt to the devil that Willy must pay A debt to the devil that Willy must pay For killing pretty Polly and running away
There used to be a gambler who courted all around There used to be a gambler who courted all around He courted Pretty Polly, such beauty'd never been found Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, come go along with me Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, come go along with me Before we get married some pleasures to see She jumped up behind him and away they did go She jumped up behind him and away they did go Down into the valley that was far below He rode her over hills and valleys so deep He rode her over hills and valleys so deep Pretty Polly mistrusted and then began to weep They went a little further and what did they spy? They went a little further and what did they spy? But a newly-dug grave with a spade lying by Oh Willy, hey Willy, I'm afraid of your ways Oh Willy, hey Willy, I'm afraid of your ways I'm afraid you will lead my poor body astray Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, your guess is about right Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, your guess is about right I've dug on your grave the better part of last night She knelt down before him pleading for her life She knelt down before him pleading for her life Please let me be a single girl if I can't be your wife Then he stabbed her in the heart till her heart's blood did flow He stabbed her in the heart till her heart's blood did flow And into the grave Pretty Polly did go He threw something over her and turned to go home He threw something over her and turned to go home Leaving nothing behind him but the girl left to mourn He went down to the jailhouse and what did he say He went down to the jailhouse and what did he say I killed Pretty Polly and tried to get away Now gentlemen and ladies, I bid you farewell Now gentlemen and ladies I bid you farewell For killing Pretty Polly my soul will go to hell Now a debt to the devil that Willy must pay A debt to the devil that Willy must pay For killing pretty Polly and running away
