Hi,

Rather than wait for answers to the questions posed earlier today, I'll throw out some observations and let you comment on them.

1. Both the English (Child B) and Scotch (Child A) versions are based on a similar earlier unknown traditional ballad (the ur-ballad) which was probably known around the mid 1600s.

2. The changes by Percy of English broadside version (Child Bd) are based on an unknown traditional version and rewrites by Percy. The two important changes that I believe are from another source are the name, "Young Jemmye Grove" and the last stanza:

Farewell she sayd ye vergins all,
And shun the fault I fell in,
Henceforth take warning by the fall
Of cruel Barbara Allen.

3. The rose briar ending has been borrowed from an older ballad: Child 74, Fair Margaret and Sweet William. The reason I believe this is that the lovers name "Sweet William" (or a derivative) has also been borrowed from "Fair Margaret and Sweet William."

4. The motive for Barbara's rejection (found first in Child A) is this stanza from Ramsay 1740:

"0 dinna ye mind, young man," said she
"When ye was in the tavern a drinking,
That ye made the healths gae round and round,
And slighted Barbara Allan?"

5. His typical response to her accusation which may or may not have been added to the UR ballad is:

Oh yes, I remember the other night
When I was in town a-drinking,
I drank a health to the ladies all around
But gave my love to Barbara Allen.

More to come,

Richie