The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #79832   Message #1449654
Posted By: GUEST,Lighter
01-Apr-05 - 08:22 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Barbara Allan (Sarah Makem)
Subject: RE: Origins: Sarah Makem's 'Barbara Allan'?
Hi, Turtle.

Sarah Makem lived in Keady, so the observation that her song is from there doesn't say much.

The first stanza is close to that sung by Ewan MacColl, which he may have picked up partly from one of his parents and partly from Greig.
Bronson may not include MacColl's lyrics if they are a collation, or his name if the tune is from Greig. His first stanza as I recall it goes,

It fell upon the Martimas time,
When the green leaves they were fa'in',
That Sir John Graeme o' the North Countree
Fell in love wi' Bawbee Allen.