Dock Boggs: Pretty Polly (1966) 

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

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

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

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

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

His voice is hypnotic.

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

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,

His music strikes the soul.

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

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

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

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

God, I love Dock Boggs!

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

I love this so much.

Absolutely perfect

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

Haunting

Priceless.

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

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

Excellent. Many Thanks.

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.

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

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.

high lonesome sound manifested.

Love his music, I find it being hipnotic

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.

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

I love and greatly appreciate this mans music.

Lets go back in time and never come back

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.

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

That's straight moonshine he's drinking lol

A fellow Virginian. Wish I could have met him.

What a treasure

Thank you also!

So great

Muy bueno!!!

Favorite

Amazing!

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

what a LEGEND.

THANKS

Legend

This is the way i like banjo best.

what a man xxx

YES

❤Moran un mito

Brabo alen!😊

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

We are related , my mom is a Bogggs.

Every 3 minute banjo song has a 3 minute introduction.

👍 😊

Aguante dock boggs

DOCK BOGGS LIVES

PrettyPolly!!

loved it,just saying

big!

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

Ho lee cow. The best.

Alan perdon!

3:09

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.

He sounds just like Clifton Hicks.

Song starts at 3:09

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

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

TUNING: f#CGAD

Coldblooded man im so thankful to be alive today

He looks a little like colonel sanders 😃

start at 03:09

reminds me of abner jay

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.

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

Ever Time I hear this song I weep like a widow woman with 12 Children and the father is gone.

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

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

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

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

the singing is not very good