The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #162917   Message #3883919
Posted By: TheSnail
22-Oct-17 - 07:05 PM
Thread Name: What is Happening to our Folk Clubs
Subject: RE: What is Happening to our Folk Clubs
We'd use the same locution today, to imply no more than that she was particularly associated with the song. Which might well be the case even if it had been written 200 years before.
Indeed, but there is nothing in Pepys' quote that implies that.

the earliest broadside says it's to be sung to the tune of Barbara Allen.
Date please.
Was Barbara Allen only ever sung to one tune? I honestly don't know.