"Pretty Polly" Performance & Full Lyrics
Added 2018-02-21 19:01:56 +0000 UTCTuning is one full step below gDGCD, two-finger, thumb-lead playing style. George R. Gibson recorded this song (track #20 "Last Possum Up the Tree" 1999 June Appal Recordings) on a six-string guitar banjo tuned to DADGAD. Gibson uses his own folk-derived, three-finger picking style when playing this piece on the six-string.
I play the song using a relatively simple two-finger, thumb-lead picking style.
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Away back in England a lady did dwell x2,
Her name was Pretty Polly I loved her so well.
Polly Pretty Polly O yonder she stands x2,
With gold rings on her fingers and lily white hands.
Polly Pretty Polly come take me in kind x2,
Let me sit down beside you and tell you my mind.
My mind is to marry and never to part x2,
The first time I saw you you wounded my heart.
Polly Pretty Polly come go along with me x2,
Before we get married some pleasure to see.
He took her over mountains and valleys so deep x2,
At length Pretty Polly she began to weep.
Saying Willie O dear Willie I'm a'feared of your way x2,
I fear you will lead my poor body a'stray.
They went on a piece farther and what did they spy x2,
But a newly-dug grave with the spade lying by.
Polly Pretty Polly you've guessed just about right x2,
I dug on your grave the best part of last night.
She fell to her knees and pleaded for her life x2,
Saying let me go a'begging if I cannot be your wife.
But he stabbed her through the heart and the heart's blood did flow x2,
And down in the grave Pretty Polly did go.
He threw a little dirt over her and started for home x2,
Leaving nothing behind but the wild birds to moan.
It's a debt to the devil poor Willie must pay x2,
For killing Pretty Polly and running away.
Comments
Hi Clifton is your performance the same as the tab... or is the Tab just the rough bare bones?
Coleman
2023-12-12 02:24:16 +0000 UTCI am really lovinβ this whole venture of yours. Keep up the excellent work, I think you have started something pretty special here. Enough smoke, I have a question for ya. Your rhythm and timing sound pretty good to my ear. Do you ever practice with a metronome? How do you feel about metronomes in general. When I use one for practice, I notice I tend to speed up through difficult passages of a tune. I guess I am asking whatβs the best way to work on rhythm?
Robert Fish
2018-02-22 03:04:41 +0000 UTCI like the full performance video. It is very important to hear it over and over to get it in your head before you even worry about referencing tabs.
Ken Taylor
2018-02-22 02:24:05 +0000 UTCYes, anyone can share tabs here (should be easy to do over in the "community" section?). I totally encourage you all to share and discuss anything related to our banjo heritage--including tabs, videos etc.
Clifton Hicks
2018-02-21 23:10:48 +0000 UTCThat would be Nice.
steven maenen
2018-02-21 20:56:04 +0000 UTCYou don't do tabs. That is fine for me. But it would be ok for you if we make them ourself and share them here? That would be great.
Baltram Wiesel
2018-02-21 20:13:23 +0000 UTCYes, we will be uploading several follow-up lessons for this song as well as at least a couple of close-ups. This is a trickier piece of music.
Clifton Hicks
2018-02-21 19:52:42 +0000 UTCGreat that, really enjoyable, thanks! Would it be possible to break the fingering into sections, I see what you are doing but would have difficulty picking out the fret positions and strings that are in use. Don't know your thoughts on using tabs but maybe they'd be helpful to understand whats going on? Or a close up of the finger board.
Bob Spencer
2018-02-21 19:40:37 +0000 UTC
