Dock Boggs: Pretty Polly (1966)

Preceded by Dock's recollections of making his first phonograph records in New York City in 1927. Shot by Alan Lomax and crew at the Protective Club, 596 Thames St., in Newport, Rhode Island, during the 1966 Newport Folk Festival. For more information about Lomax and his collections, visit culturalequity.org. [N8R06]

[@evansgate]

love his humble "some people don't like the way I play but you can't expect everyone to like it". if only every musician had this perspective, Dock Boggs played in that style because he liked it, simple as that

[@Conbonicle]

I like his style the best

[@Skinnyorangemusic]

I relate. I love playing guitar and I love strumming. Some people think it's too basic but I like how it sounds and I'm having fun!

[@mitchgann1469]

Clifton Hicks

[@markmorey9581]

I can't even believe I'm watching Dock Boggs sing and play.Thank you.

[@jackwardrop4994]

“Some people likes the way I play and some doesn’t” oh what gorgeous way to talk

[@davidthedustyhampton690]

I'm so glad we live in a time we can see video of people who made records in the 20s such as Doc Boggs and Clarence Ashley, even though it wasn't until the folk revival of the 60s the fact that we have videos such as these is nothing short of a miracle of history

[@craiglammers7177]

Though there's video of Jimmie Rodgers from 1931

[@emilbecker8970]

Doc boggs playing is so haunting and deep. My favourite style of picking there is

[@AlanLomaxArchive]

Apologies to everyone who interacted with the earlier upload; it was removed to make room for this superior version!

[@mattwhite4960]

Alan Lomax Archive is one of the best things on this planet. Thank you

[@BlueGrassPeteF]

After listening to Dock's 78s for years, it is delightful to be able to see him! His music has been a big influence on me. Thanks to Alan Lomax for filming Dock, and to Mike Seeger for all his recording work with him,

[@timthetoolpool]

His voice is hypnotic.

[@darkmysterytemple]

Nice to see his hand positioning. Thanks. In my top three musicians of all time.

[@derekwhite5016]

Good taste. The other two?

[@TheFolkRevivalProject]

This song is over 300 years old, and probably describes true events that took place in England. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pretty_Polly_(ballad)

[@justforever96]

Most old ballads are based on real events aren't they?

[@BryanClark-gk6ie]

​@@justforever96 Yes, you should listen to the song' stand to the side and let it blow over your shoulder, a real event that happened and the solution to avoid it from happening again.

[@thomsmith9394]

Absolutely mind blow to actually see him play this. Can’t believe I’ve never seen this footage before.

[@jco1610]

His music strikes the soul.

[@Arze555]

I been listening to doc boggs since I was 15...... never seen a video of him. Awesome. Thanks for uploading!!!

[@justforever96]

I live how he considers himself a coal miner who also plays music. You just don't see that anymore. And the way he says "i never lost a finger" like he had unusual good fortune in that way says volumes about the work he was doing. Of course he may not be thinking specifically of amputation, just injuries that left the finger unusable for playing with, but it still speaks to the hard and dangerous nature of the work they were doing.

[@jeffmead2935]

there really ought to be a main stream documentary on the Alan Lomax Archive....after all they give us Simon Cowell and lots of other pish too

[@marinevet7273]

A lot of his Boggs family kinfolk from Wise County VA. “His cousin lines” moved to Washington State to work in the logging industry between 1930s-1960s. The Bogg’s I have known , have similar Boggs family face features and all I have known have been kind and quiet spoken folks

[@fastheartmartvideos]

God, I love Dock Boggs!

[@lindamaemullins5151]

Yep me too honey 👍

[@Skinnyorangemusic]

After a life of hard work he played the most beautiful music

[@jerrywilliams5042]

I love this so much.

[@xwillnotbetelevisedx]

Thank you so very much for uploading this and all the other videos in this channel. This world would be very sad without the often overlooked work of Mr. Lomax.

[@TheGreyGhost_of43rd]

Absolutely perfect

[@fuchsiasaville]

First time I've seen this. Serious song .Good though legendary.

[@MrDanielHewitt]

Priceless.

[@wanderingsemantics7266]

thank you very much alan Dock is one of my favorites rip dock you are a legend thanks

[@edmonddsilva7069]

Excellent. Many Thanks.

[@n.d.w8504]

Haunting

[@johnculhane438]

high lonesome sound manifested.

[@booflaboof]

thank you so much for taking the time out of your day for archiving this

[@carlosfelipe.rodriguez]

Well, I must thank Frank Underwood because he made me search for original versions of this track and I found this jewel. And thank you for uploading this video, which is a micro documentary because of the story he shares.

[@andreabordoni2665]

Love his music, I find it being hipnotic

[@michaelgarrity6090]

I love hearing this old timey mountain sound music. I like his sound. The best ever rendition of Pretty Polly was the one recorded for the PBS special "Down From the Mountain Tour" show thst took place at The Ryman with Patty Lovelace and the late Dr. Raloh Stanley. Patty held that one note till sbe was almost out of breath. Thank goodness that was recoded for both an album and television.

[@billbaggins1688]

Gold.

[@HEADSUPBERKELEY]

So blessed to hear one of my fa vo rites Thank you

[@freddrog4689]

Lets go back in time and never come back

[@terrik9510]

I love and greatly appreciate this mans music.

[@smokeymcpot69]

That's straight moonshine he's drinking lol

[@smitchell2339]

What a treasure

[@fernandoramos5587]

Muy bueno!!!

[@GentlemanLife-Beyotch]

A fellow Virginian. Wish I could have met him.

[@nudge2626]

Amazing!

[@Jm01394]

Thank you also!

[@blackkoganinja5093]

So great

[@PaulEckelman]

Favorite

[@AN-jz3px]

thank you!!!!!!!!!!

[@neooneart]

what a LEGEND.

[@dmillk]

Legend

[@famousoriginal7971]

Every 3 minute banjo song has a 3 minute introduction.

[@justforever96]

Well, they don't. Not sure why would say that. This is the first one I have seen. Every old ballad could probably use one to put it into context and explain its history and significance, and it would be totally worth the time. They don't usually though. In this case they specifically brought him here to archive recordings of his folk songs and his own history, and that's what the audience came to hear. So if you don't like it go find one of the modern recordings. Or use your forward button.

[@StephenS-2024]

This is the way i like banjo best.

[@markosterman419]

An amazing document. Interesting that he looks like he’s playing an expensive Gibson banjo. I would have expected an old open back banjo.

[@quintork4100]

what a man xxx

[@tobieTyler6007]

Can't understand all the words But I remember a song pretty polly In grade school along time ago Can't remember the words though SUCKS getting old but when my time is done maybe an angel will teach me the words

[@waylonhurt958]

I doubt they taught you a song about stabbing a women

[@nicholasspence155]

YES

[@HEADSUPBERKELEY]

THANKS

[@heladioa.c1390]

Brabo alen!😊

[@nadiazahroon6573]

We are related , my mom is a Bogggs.

[@christopherhelton6999]

Whereabouts are your people from? Mine are from the Menifee/Bath/Magoffin/Rowan County area.

[@nadiazahroon6573]

Christopher Helton my mom was born Norton, Wise county. Her dad and his parents came from Kentucky. My great grandparents were farmers on my grandmothers side by the name of Peters.

[@archer1949]

This is one of the original Child Ballads, I believe.

[@bonscotto]

❤Moran un mito

[@adolfryan1930]

Lyrics: I used to be a rambler, I stayed around this town I used to be a rambler, I stayed around in town I courted Pretty Polly and the beauty has never been found (break) Oh where is Pretty Polly, oh yonder she stands Oh where is Pretty Polly, oh yonder she stands With rings on her fingers and lily-white hands Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly come take a walk with me Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly come take a walk with me When we get married some pleasure to see (break) He led her over hills and valleys so deep He led her over hills and valleys so deep At last Pretty Polly, she began to weep Oh Willie oh Willie I'm 'fraid of your way Willie oh Willie I'm 'fraid of your way Inclined to ramble and lead me astray (break) Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly you guessin' about right Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly you guessin' about right I dug on your grave two-thirds of last night They went on a piece farther and what did they spy? Went on up (?) farther and what did they spy? A new-dug grave and a spade lying by (break) She threw her arms around him and began for to weep She threw her arms around him and began for to weep At last Pretty Polly, she fell asleep He threw the dirt over her, and turned away to go Threw the dirt over her, and turned away to go Down to the river where the deep water flow

[@gregorybowe9383]

Thank you for doing this.

[@ElisonJackson]

'such beauty's never been found' is the correct lyric. changes the context a bit lol

[@tomb613]

PrettyPolly!!

[@Crumpleshadow]

Song starts at 3:09

[@TheIkaraCult]

it does but it's a very interesting introduction!

[@DrVonChilla]

DOCK BOGGS LIVES

[@fuchsiasaville]

👍 😊

[@MrJuan566]

Aguante dock boggs

[@ThomasKrutmann]

big!

[@kennyguitarallen5662]

loved it,just saying

[@MrMonkey9911]

Ho lee cow. The best.

[@robinhood480]

He sounds just like Clifton Hicks.

[@fivebrosstopmos]

They definitely have similar styles.

[@justforever96]

Clifton Hicks sounds like him you mean. And I don't think so. The playing you mean? Because the voices are pretty different. But I guarantee this guy is an influence on Hicks. That's what he does, he is about heritage.

[@KanedaSyndrome]

3:09

[@marksgraybeal]

Dad said a recording of his budies inlisted.intertained as Hill/Mountian music. he played mandalin an other guys frum library jam. Burl Ives played he said. but head liner was maybe Jumbilee singers maybe ? wish cud get copy frum us library congress if found date of presidential dinner for soldiers.in dc. durin war. Dad took mandalin on Utah beach for a week. day, till had hands near blown off. Brother plays bluegrass now, i heard Skruggs review in college concert.

[@lindamaemullins5151]

Wow that’s so cool honey ❤️🥰

[@heladioa.c1390]

Alan perdon!

[@oregontexfyb7757]

Coldblooded man im so thankful to be alive today

[@justforever96]

Why, because no one is ever murdered these days? It happens literally all the time. And the song isn't praising him, it's recording an actual event and is lamenting the tragedy of the murder of a young woman and warning others to be careful of who they let seduce them. That is still a valid warning. Today you can turn on the news and hear about any number of horrible crimes and murders, missing children, women's bodies being found, woman being kept prisoners in secret dungeons. They didn't have news to watch then so they made songs about significant events to spread the word. The fact that this _was_ significant enough to make a song about suggests it was a lot less commonplace back then than it would be today. Man shoots his young girlfriend and tries to hide the body. Oh well, what else is on the news, some mass shootings, some war atrocities, there was 35 shootings in Chicago last week. Yawn. No big deal, glad I Iive in these nice decent times! Hell, today you can find any number of rap or metal songs about murder, often based on real enough events, and it's just for entertainment. Where is our moral high ground?

[@goodun2974]

David Lindley plays a version of this with altered lyrics concluding the song, so that Polly gets revenge and escapes. I also heard Lindley and Ry Cooder play Boggs' "Oh Death" at the Newport Folk Festival some years ago.

[@RedDragon-dm5sz]

Every word in your comment screams "douchebag". Bugger David Lindley and Ry Cooder...poser crap.

[@goodun2974]

@@RedDragon-dm5sz , ladies and gents, a folk "purist" has entered the chat. Apparently we must listen only to the original version as it was sung nearly 400 years ago. Modern guitars and other instruments not invented yet are hereby disallowed, as are tweed jackets with elbow patches. How dreary. You must be great fun at parties, especially if somebody plays Mumford & Sons....

[@RedDragon-dm5sz]

@@goodun2974 No, just a guy who hates shallow, phony music, played by hipster losers.

[@rattyfingers8621]

@@RedDragon-dm5sz Sonoma co California is full of them. Oof, I live here. Home of guess who else, DL. Good musician, but not the real deal by any stretch.

[@blahblah9260]

This would make an amazing metal song it wouldn't be as good as the dock himself but I know some of yall can hear that shit

[@donmcneil8285]

He looks a little like colonel sanders 😃

[@asherthenee6107]

TUNING: f#CGAD

[@SwinginPig]

Bobby Dylan ripped off the melody of this song for his 1962 track "The Ballad Of Hollis Brown."

[@romin5035]

Swingin’ Pig love Dylan but he ripped off a few traditional artists, Doc and Jean Ritchie for sure. but in all fairness, these traditional ballads floated around for decades, even centuries and musicians would swap out melodies and lyrics and combine them with other songs, etc. So I guess what Dylan does was part of the natural evolution of the music.

[@SwinginPig]

Yeah, I completely agree. And he did make a lot of songs considerably "better" as well.

[@gluce]

Pretty hard to "steal" songs like this. They've been floating around in form or another for a couple hundred years at least, sometimes longer.

[@MrMelodynelson]

start at 03:09

[@Ma_rkw589]

reminds me of abner jay

[@gherat]

I’d always imagined him with way less tidy clothes ..and a dusty hat!

[@AA-69]

Perhaps if you ask nicely they'll let you back in the mines. !?!?🤔

[@heladioa.c1390]

Con todos os respetos: Pode que non sexa quem? But no anddestenx You no. 😊😊😊😊🎥🎥📷📷📷📷😊😂😊😊😊😊😊😂😂😂😂😊😊😊😊😊😂😊😊😊

[@tommybrill9107]

Look at his old photos. He looks like he’d kill you.

[@jmf2274]

the singing is not very good

[@BryanClark-gk6ie]

No it's not' it's very very good

[@runrig97]

You are free to record your own version.