There was a lord in London's town
He courted a lady gay
And all that he courted this lady for
Was to take her sweet life away.
"Come give to me of your father's gold
And likewise your mother's fees
And two of the best horses in your father's stable
Where there stands thirty and three."
So she mounted on a milk white steed
And he on a fast traveling grey
And they rode til they came to yonder sea side
Three hours before it was day.
"Alight, alight my fair and pretty Polly,
Alight, alight" cried he
"It's six pretty maidens have I drownded here
And you the seventh shall be.
Take off, take off your silken gown
And hand it over to me
For I do think your clothing too good
To rot all in the salt sea."
"Well I'll take off my silken gown
And I'll hand it over to you
But I do think it a very great wrong
A naked woman to view.
So I'll take off my silken gown
And I'll lay it on the green,
But before I do, you false young man,
You must turn your back upon me."
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And as he turned his back around
And faced yon willow tree
She's grasped him about the middle so small
And flung him into the sea.
And as he rose and as he sank
And as he rose cried he,
"Oh give me your hand my fair and pretty Polly
And my bride forever you'll be."
"No lie there, lie there you false young man,
Go lie there instead of me
Tis six foolish maidens have you drownded here
But the seventh has drownded thee."
She mounted on the milk white steed
She led away the fast traveling grey
And she rode til she came to her father's house
One hour before it was day.
Now the parrot was hung in the window so high
"Where have you been?" cried she.
"Oh I've been away down to Scotland's bridge
Where young Henry he lies under the sea.
No tales, no tales my fair and pretty Polly
No tales, no tales on me
And your cage shall be made of the very finest gold
And hung upon an ivory tree."
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