Sweet Polly Oliver
Sarah Brightman · Other Songs - Sarah Brightman
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 docter kept shaking his head,
"No nursing, young fellow, can save him," he said.
But when Pooly Oliver had nursed him back to life
He cried, "You have cherished him as if you were his wife".
O then Polly Oliver, whe 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.
Sweet Polly Oliver
Sarah Brightman's 'Sweet Polly Oliver' stands as a poignant musical tribute to the tragic figure of the 19th-century actress Polly Oliver. Recorded in English, the track leverages Brightman's renowned soprano voice to reinterpret the story of a woman who, despite her fame and beauty, met a grim end. The song captures the melancholic atmosphere of the Victorian era, blending classical vocal techniques with dramatic storytelling. It reflects Brightman's broader discography of historical and biographical narratives, where she often explores the lives of fictional or real characters with emotional depth. The recording showcases her ability to convey complex emotions through melody alone, making it a standout piece within her catalog of dramatic and theatrical works.