PRETTY POLLY OLIVER
(learned from John Jacob Niles)
As pretty Polly Oliver sat musing in bed
So in soldier's attire to the wars she set out
Now Polly he knew in a moment's quick glance
So the sergeant he sent for the parson to come
(from miriam berg's folksong collection)
A comical fancy came into her head
Not father nor mother shall make me false prove
I'll list for a soldier and follow my love.
And she bore ev'ry part both in raid and in rout
'Til in a battle she found him slightly wounded and low
As he lay on the ground with his face to the foe.
And he said, Why, my dear one, I left you in France,
But the lass said, No, he was surely mistook,
But her words were belied by the love in her look.
And marry the lovers who followed the drum
And Polly, restored to her womanly 'state,
Found all that she'd sought in a home and a mate.