The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #6537   Message #69134
Posted By: Wolfgang
08-Apr-99 - 11:17 AM
Thread Name: Art Thieme's CD: The Older I Get, The Better I Was
Subject: Lyr Add: COWBOY'S BARBARA ALLEN
I'm less confident with the next one, though there are many similar versions to compare. However, I couldn't solve my problems in the first and last verse.

Wolfgang

COWBOY'S BARBARA ALLEN

Near (Medicine Bough?) where I was born,
there was a fair maid dwelling,
made all the boys ride saddle sore
and her name was Barbara Allen. (rep. last line in all verses)

'Twas in the merry month of May,
green buds they were swelling,
young Billy come to the Western Range,
come a courting Barbara Allen.

'Twas in the merry month of June,
green leaves they was blooming,
young Billy on his deathbed lay,
just for loving Barbara Allen.

We (sent?) a message out to her
place where she was (dogging?),
saying come and see young Billy today,
all we think that he is dying.

Now slowly, slowly she got up,
slowly she went to him,
and when she pulled the blanket back
said: „Bill, I guess you're dying."

„Yes, I am sick, I'm very sick,
I never shall get better
until I get the love of you,
oh, the love of Barbara Allen."

Well, as she went walking back through the brush,
she heard the cattle moaning,
and every moan they seemed to say:
Hard-hearted Barbara Allen.

„Oh father, oh father, go dig my grave,
dig it deep and narrow.
Young Billy died for me today,
I'm gonna die for him tomorrow.

We buried her in the old churchyard,
Bill his grave was nigh her,
and from his grave grew a red red rose,
and from hers grew a briar.

Well, they tangled 'round the (?) rocks,
they couldn't grow no higher,
and there they tied the true love knot,
oh, the rose and the thorny briar.

Rep. first verse