American Roots Singer Songwriter Dirk Powell: No More Pretty Polly

Words have power in the hands of a skilled artist; a fact demonstrated by Dirk Powell. The four-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer has upheld traditional folk music while rethinking its conventions.

A master in both Mountain and Cajun fiddle styles, Powell has worked with Dewey Balfa, Levon Helm, Rhiannon Giddens, Loretta Lynn, Eric Clapton, and Joan Baez as well as with directors Anthony Minghella (“Cold Mountain”), Ang Lee (“Ride with the Devil”) and Spike Lee (“Bamboozled”).

Powell explains from his home in Louisiana that he has turned against traditional folk songs like “Knoxville Girl” and “Pretty Polly” — songs he feels glorify violence against women.

“I was singing [Pretty Polly] one day during soundcheck at a show and I just heard the words come out of my mouth, ‘Sweet William stabbing her through the heart.’”

Powell remembers thinking about his daughters Amelia and Sophie and how the song always made them uncomfortable.

“I just got to a point where I thought, ‘I don’t want to spend this short time I have on this planet continuing those stories.’”

Inspired to write his song “I Ain't Playing Pretty Polly,” Powell says he’s opting for a positive message.

“There are plenty of other stories to tell. I’d rather tell stories like I do in my song [I Ain’t Playing Pretty Polly] about my great uncle Clide and aunt Myrtle, who were married for seventy years. They were beautiful people, and [Clide] was a loving husband.”

Powell shares that there’s been a mixed reaction to his song.

“I had people come up to me in tears thanking me for it, especially women who are victims of violence.” Powell says not everybody has been happy. “I have had people fold their arms and reject it completely.”

Although the song is off limits, Powell admits a fond memory is attached to Pretty Polly.

“My grandfather, James Clarence Hay, played that song, and he played a very beautiful and unique version of it. It was really a treasure and a unique thing that came from him.”

The young Powell cherishes the time he had with his grandfather.  

“I would always visit my grandfather in Kentucky. His banjo held mystique for me. It was just this really special thing where I would be around him, and he would play. It was just really beautiful and timeless.

“He felt that I was learning the old-time music, and he loved it,” Powell recalls. “I started taking the Greyhound from where I lived in Ohio to Kentucky by myself, and just spent time with him and absorbed it all. I credit him with the source of music that really shaped my life.”

 As a kid, Powell was drawn to different kinds of music.

“I listened to rock ‘n roll. I was probably around ten or eleven when John Lennon was killed. I thought, ‘What was this about The Beatles?’ So, I listened to them incessantly!

“A little later, I wanted to rebel, so you get drawn into things like Punk,” shares Powell, who discovered that there was more rebellion in old-time music than in his raucous youth music.

“Punk was very much about image,” explains Powell. “At some point I realized about my grandfather’s music, ‘Wait a minute, this is a much deeper rebellion because this is not tied to any commercial culture or image.”’

Finishing up a performance at the Alaska Folk Festival, Powell shares his wonderful time sharing the stage with his friend Rhiannon Giddens.

“It was really awesome. It was the [Alaska Folk Festival’s] 50^th anniversary. Me, Rhiannon, and my daughter Amelia played, and it was just a blast.”

Describing the event, “It’s special in that they have fifteen-minute slots on the main stage, and anybody can sign up for them. This goes on for five or six days.”

Powell, who worked off and on throughout their careers producing and recording with Giddens, says she is an amazing talent, especially her vocal performance.

“It’s not like she is imitating something; she taps into that source in herself. She can sing without losing herself.

“Right now, I’m working with Rhiannon and we’re working on a record of hers,” Powell shares.  “We’re also collaborating on a musical I’m really excited about. It’s been various things in the studio and then getting ready to go on the road,” adding that he and his daughter Amelia will join Rhiannon’s band.

“We’re gonna be full-time with Rhiannon later this month [April]with Justin Robbinson from the Carolina Chocolate Drops.”

As for plans, Powell believes in letting things happen naturally.

“For now, it’s not looking too much at the distant horizon. We got some cool records in the works and some cool tours coming up, and see how it flows after that!”