Hi,

I'm now going to add representative traditional ballads which I believe point to the ur-ballad or in this case ballads- since there are several different openings and endings.

The first is from Lena Harmon and Hattie Presnell and is part of what I believe is the evolution of Child B and tells the complete story. Comments as always are welcome.

Barbara Allen - sung by Lena Harmon and Hattie Presnell on March 21, 1969, Beech Mountain North Carolina. Collected by my friend Thomas Burton, of Tennessee.

1. In Scarlet town where I was born,
There was a fair maid dwellin'
Made every youth cry "Well a-way,"
Her name was Barbara Allen.

2. All in the merry months of May,
When the green buds they were swellin',
Sweet William came from the western states,
And courted Barbara Allen.

3. Then in the lovely month of June,
When all things they were bloomin',
Sweet William on his deathbed lay
For the love of Barbara Allen.

4. He sent his servant to the town
Where Barbara was a-dwellin';
"My master's sick, and he sends for you
If your name be Barbara Allen."

5. "For death is printed on his face
And o'er his heart is stealin';
Oh, come away to comfort him,
Oh, lovely Barbara Allen."

6. So slow, so slowly she got up,
And slowly she came nigh him;
And all she said when she got there,
"Young man, I think you're dyin'."

7. "Oh, yes, I'm sick and very sick,
And death is on me dwellin';
No better, no better I never will be
If I can't have Barbara Allen."

8. "Oh, yes, you're sick and very sick,
And death is on you dwellin';
No better, no better you never will be
For you can't have Barbara Allen."

9. "Oh, don't you remember in yonders town,
In yonders tavern a-drinkin'?
You drank a health to the ladies around
And slighted Barbara Allen."

10. "Oh, yes, I remember in yonders town,
In yonders tavern a-drinkin';
I drank a health to the ladies around,
My heart to Barbara Allen."

11. He turned his face unto the wall;
He turned his back upon her,
"Adieu, adieu to all my friends;
Be kind to Barbara Allen."

12. As she was walkin' through the field,
She beard the bells a-ringin';
They rang so loud they seemed to say,
"Unworthy Barbara Allen."

13. As she was walkin' through the town,
She heard the birds a-singin';
They rang so clear they seemed to say,
"Hardhearted Barbara Allen."

14. She looked to the east, she looked to the west;
She saw the corpse a-comin',
"Lay down, lay down the corpse," she said,
"That I may look upon him."

15. The more she looked, the more she moaned;
She fell on the ground a-cryin',
"Oh, pick me up and carry me home
For I feel like I am dyin'."

16. "Oh, Mother, oh, Mother, go make my bed;
Go make it long and narrow.
Sweet William died for me today;
I'll die for him tomorrow."

17. "Oh, Father, oh, Father, go dig my grave;
Go dig it long and narrow."
Sweet William died for true, true love,
And I will die from sorrow."

18. They buried her in the old churchyard,
And he was buried nigh her.
On William's grave grew a red, red rose;
On Barbara's grew a green briar.

19. They grew to the top of the old church wall;
They could not grow any higher.
They linked and twined in a true love's knot,
And the rose grew around the briar.

This version of the ballad is very well balanced and complete. Many of the representative lexicons are included (Fair maid dwellin'/western states/o'er his heart is stealin'/nigh him/ etc). I say evolution because it has elements that have evolved through time. The name, "Sweet William," for example, is taken (in my opinion) from Child 74 along with the rode/briar ending. The sick stanza ("yes, I'm sick") and the response ("yes, you're sick")- perfectly balanced. The motive for her rejecting him (slighting her at the tavern) and his defense (gave a health to the ladies, but his love to Barbara Allen)- again balanced. The mother making the bed and the father digging the grave- balanced. The two rose/briar stanzas- balanced. In my opinion, this is an example of an excellent version of the ballad.

Richie