I've heard folklorists point out that more than ninety versions of Barbara Allen have been collected in the state of Virginia alone. Check that out, and then see how many versions are included in the Brown collection of North Carolina Folklore. Then look through all the other state and regional collections that have been published (Randolph, Belden, Brewster, Smith, Morris, Thomas, etc, etc.) Anyone have their copy of Bronson's The Traditional Tunes of the Child Ballads handy? How many Barbara Allens did he choose to include in his great compendium?

By the way, there's a neat version of "Soldier, Soldier, Will You Marry Me" that ends (after she has brought him a new coat, new shirt, new trousers, new boots, etc.) "How can I marry such an ugly girl as you, and me with all these fine clothes on?" It's on my The Traditional Music of Beech Mountain, North Carolina, recordings, sung by Lena Armstrong and Etta Jones, sisters. I recorded them in Poteau, Oklahoma, but they were from "the Beech."

Sandy