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Little Polly Williams

from A Twist in the Story by Anne Lister

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about

A story told by the Reverend Edmund Jones, who wrote about fairies and other supernatural phenomena in Gwent. The song is followed by "Speed the Plough".

lyrics

Little Polly Williams danced with the fairies
Danced with the fairies when she came home from school
Little Polly from the Ship Inn in Trevethin
The finest little dancer in Pontypool.

She took off her clogs and she danced with them barefoot
She didn’t want her clumsy feet to make a sound
Took off her clogs and her fine woollen stockings
She never heard their fairy feet touch the ground.

Little Polly Williams danced with the fairies
Under the shade of a crab apple tree
Little Polly Williams, dancing like a cobweb
With fairies all dressed in blues and greens

Her Mam told her off for walking home barefoot
Her friends wondered why she wouldn’t join in their games
But little Polly Williams didn’t say a word to anyone
Just joined with her fairy friends to dance all the same.

Little Polly Williams danced with the fairies
But unlike the fairies she found that time went past
Little Polly Williams grew older and stiffer
She found that her dancing times couldn’t last.

One day the fairies called her to dance with them
Called her as usual to dance by the tree
But Polly wouldn’t go, and this made them cross with her
She limped on home when they twisted her knee.

Little Polly Williams danced with the fairies
Danced with the fairies when she came home from school
Polly Williams from the Ship Inn in Trevethin
The finest little dancer in Pontypool.

And if one day you’re passing by the apple tree
You might hear the fairies inviting you to play
And if you’re not as brave as little Polly Williams
It might be a good plan to just run away.

credits

from A Twist in the Story, released April 29, 2022
Mike O'Connor - concertina
Matt Crum - melodeon
Joy Freya - saxophones

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Anne Lister Wales, UK

Anne is best known for her song "Icarus", recorded and performed by a number of different singers, including Martin Simpson and Nic Jones. "Astrolabe" is her ninth solo album.

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