Sweet Polly Oliver facts for kids
Sweet Polly Oliver is a classic English folk song. It's also known as "Pretty Polly Oliver." This song is a type of old story-telling song called a broadside ballad. These were popular songs printed on large sheets of paper and sold cheaply in the past. The song has been around since at least 1840, and while the tune is old and anonymous, there are a few different versions of the words.
"Sweet Polly Oliver" is one of the most famous folk songs about women who dress up as men. They do this to join the army and follow the person they love. Famous composers like Thomas Root and Benjamin Britten have even created their own musical versions of this song.
Contents
The Story of Polly Oliver
This song tells the exciting story of a brave young woman named Polly Oliver. She decides to do something very daring to be with the one she loves.
Polly's Big Idea
Polly is thinking in bed when she gets a bold idea. She decides that nothing, not even her parents, will stop her from being true to her love. She plans to join the army as a soldier to follow him.
Becoming a Soldier
Early the next morning, Polly quietly gets up. She puts on her dead brother's clothes. To make sure no one recognizes her, she cuts her hair short and colors her face brown. Then, she heads off to London Town to become a soldier.
Finding Her Love
One day, during army training, the sergeant asks who can help nurse a sick captain. Polly quickly volunteers. When she goes to nurse him, she discovers it's her true love! He is very ill and weak.
Polly's Care
At first, the doctor thinks the captain won't make it. But Polly takes amazing care of him. She nurses him back to health, almost like a wife would. The doctor is amazed by her dedication.
A Happy Ending
Polly then cries and tells the doctor her secret hopes and fears. Soon after, the captain, now well, happily marries his "soldier nurse."
Sweet Polly Oliver Lyrics
- As sweet Polly Oliver lay musing in bed,
- A sudden strange fancy came into her head.
- "Nor father nor mother shall make me false prove,
- I'll 'list as a soldier, and follow my love."
- So early next morning she softly arose,
- And dressed herself up in her dead brother's clothes.
- She cut her hair close, and she stained her face brown,
- And went for a soldier to fair London Town.
- Then up spoke the sergeant one day at his drill,
- "Now who's good for nursing? A captain, he's ill."
- "I'm ready," said Polly. To nurse him she's gone,
- And finds it's her true love all wasted and wan.
- The first week the doctor kept shaking his head,
- "No nursing, young fellow, can save him," he said.
- But when Polly Oliver had nursed him back to life
- He cried, "You have cherished him as if you were his wife".
- O then Polly Oliver, she burst into tears
- And told the good doctor her hopes and her fears,
- And very shortly after, for better or for worse,
- The captain took joyfully his pretty soldier nurse.
Polly Oliver in Books
The main idea of this song also inspired a popular book by Terry Pratchett called Monstrous Regiment. In the book, a young woman named Polly hears this song in her father's inn. She then joins the army, pretending to be a man, to find her brother. She even uses the name Oliver as part of her disguise!
History of the Song
Many old copies of "Polly Oliver" still exist today. These are the original broadside ballad sheets. You can find several of them in the Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford.