I shall tell of a hunter whose life was undone

By the cruel hand of evil at the setting of the sun

His arrow was loosed and it flew through the dark,

And his true love was slain as the shaft found its mark.



Chorus:

She'd her apron wrapped about her and he took her for a swan

But it's oh and alas it was she, polly von



He ran up beside her and found it was she

He turned away his head for he could not bear to see

He lifted her up and found she was dead,

A fountain of tears for his true love, he shed.



(chorus)



He bore her away to his home by the sea

Cryin' "father, oh father, i murdered poor polly!

I've killed my fair love in the flower of her life!

I always intended that she be my wife."



"but she'd her apron wrapped about her

And i took her for a swan,

And it's oh and alas it was she, polly von."



He roamed near the place where his true love was slain

He wept bitter tears, but his cries were all in vain.

As he looked on the lake, a swan glided by

And the sun slowly sank in the grey of the sky.



(chorus)


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