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BARBARA ELLEN (3) In Scotland I was born and bred In Scotland I was dwelling; When a young man on his deathbed lay For the sake of Barb'ra Ellen. He sent his servant to her house To the place where she was dewlling, Saying, "You must come to my master's house If your name is Barb'ra Ellen." So slowly she put on her clothes So slowly she came to him, And when she came to his bedside She said, "Young man, you're dying." "A dying man! O don't say so. For one kiss from you will cure me." "One kiss from me you never shall have While your poor heart is breaking." "If you'll look up at my bed-head You will see my watch a-hanging; Here's my gold ring and my gold chain I give to Barb'ra Ellen." "If you look down at my bed's-foot You will see a bowl a-standing In it is the blood I've shed For the sake of Barb'ra Ellen." As she was walking down the lane She heard some birds a-singing, And as they sang, they seemed to say: "Hard-hearted Barb'ra Ellen." As she was walking down the lane She heard some bells a-tolling, And as they tolled they seemed to say: "Hard-hearted Barb'ra Ellen." As she was walking up the groves And met his corpse a-coming, "Stay, stay," said she,"and stop awhile That I may gaze all on you." The more she gazed, the more she smiled Till she burst out a-laughing; And her parents cried out:"Fie, for shame, Hard-hearted Barb'ra Ellen." "Come mother, come make up my bed Make it both long and narrow; My true love died for me yesterday I'll die for him tomorrow." And he was buried in Edmondstone And she was buried in Cold Harbour; And out of him sprang roses red And out of her sweet-brier. It grew and grew so very high Till it could grow no higher; And around the top growed a true lover's knot And around it twined sweet-brier. From English Folk Songs, Sharp Child #84 @love @death filename[ BARBALN3 TUNE FILE: BARBALN3 CLICK TO PLAY RG |
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