The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #17738 Message #219249
Posted By: Abby Sale
27-Apr-00 - 08:27 PM
Thread Name: Why Did Barbara Allen Refuse?
Subject: RE: Why Did Barbara Allen Refuse?
k/k: It's a rip-off from Thomson's Select Collection of Original Scottish Airs, vol 3 (1803) p 130. I agree it's more clear than most. Here he is named as Sir John Græm (Graem) in the west country.
"...ye made the healths gae round and round, / And slighted..."
seems clear to me...he offered individual toasts round the room but omitted her. This is somewhate different than the usual "You drank a health to the ladies all, / But slighted..."
She, likely 15 years old like most lovers, was insulted.