Stories
Track List
A collection of traditional tragic (for the most part) ballads
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Side 1

Henry Martin
Step it out Mary
John Hardy - (Sound clip)
High Barbaree
Bluebeard
Pretty Polly
The Chivalrous Shark
Frankie and Johnny
Stories (poem)
Wreck of the Old 97

Side 2

The Golden Vanity
Mission San Miguel
The Fox
Scarlet Ribbons
Two Brothers
I Know an Old Lady (Who Swallowed a Fly)
The Persian Kitten (I recite this one although there is a melody to it)
Lass of the Low Country
Little Joe the Wrangler

(Selected Lyrics)

PRETTY POLLY

(Traditional)

I courted pretty Polly the live long night
I courted pretty Polly the live long night
But I slept on her grave the best part of last night

Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, come and go along with me.
Polly oh Polly, come and go along with me.
Before we get married some pleasure we'll see.

She jumped up behind him and away they did ride.
She jumped up behind him and away they did ride
to the wild running river, to the wild country side.

They rode a little further and what did they spy?
They rode a little further and what did they spy?
A newly dug grave and a spade lying by.

Oh Willie, oh Willie, I'm scared of your ways.
Oh Willie, oh Willie, I'm scared of your ways.
I'm scared you will lead my poor body astray.

Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly, you guessed just about right.
Pretty Polly, oh Polly, you guessed just about right.
Oh I dug on your grave just about all of last night.

He stabbed her in the breast, her heart blood did flow.
He stabbed her in the breast and her heart blood did flow.
And into her grave Pretty Polly did go.

He covered her up and he left her alone.
He covered her up and he left her alone.
With nobody there but the wild birds to moan.

A debt to the devil Willie must pay.
A debt to the devil Willie must pay
for killing Pretty Polly and running away.

Oh where is Pretty Polly? Yonder she stands.
Oh where is Pretty Polly? Yonder she stands.
The rings on the fingers of her lily white hand.

The Chivalrous Shark

Wallace Irwin (Early 1900's) I believe
As sung by Burl Ives

The most chivalrous fish in the ocean
To the ladies forebearing and mild
Though his record be dark, the chivalrous shark
Will eat neither woman or child

He dines upon seamen and skippers
And on tourists his hunger assuage
And a fresh cabin boy will inspire him with joy
If he's past the maturity age

I can readily cite you an instance
When a lovely young lady of Bream
Who was tender and sweet, most delicious to eat
Fell into the bay with a scream

She floundered and flounced in the water
And signalled in vain for her barque
And she'd surely have drowned if she hadn't been found
By a chivalrous man eating shark

Well he bowed in a manner most polished
And soothing her impulses wild,
Don't be frightened he said, I've been properly bred
And will eat neither woman or child

He offered his fin and she took it
Such gallantry none can dispute
And the passengers cheered as the vessel they neared
And a broadside was fired in salute

Well they soon stood alongside the vessel
o'er the side a dinghy was lowered
With the pick of the crew and her relatives too
And the mate and the skipper aboard

Well they had her aboard in a jiffy
The shark stood attention the while
Then he raised on his flipper, and ate up the skipper
and he went on his way with a smile