The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #87026 Message #3242270
Posted By: MGM·Lion
21-Oct-11 - 12:36 AM
Thread Name: Barbara Allen earliest version?
Subject: RE: Barbara Allen earliest version?
All getting bogged down here, are you not?, by trying to establish, and extrapolate from, some common thread or theme running thru the almost infinite number of versions and variants ~~ an activity that seems to me as pointless as trying to stop a bandersnatch. Sometimes she's cruel; sometimes vengeful ['drank a toast to the ladies all but slighted Barbara Allen']; sometimes matter-of-fact ['Young man I think you're dying']; sometimes regretful; sometimes blames her mother... You could deduce anything you liked about her, & his, character by eclectic reference; but just try and find an explanation which will cover all versions...!