The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #19122   Message #956422
Posted By: MMario
20-May-03 - 04:00 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Barbara Allen (different versions)
Subject: Lyr Add: BARBARA ALLEN / BARB'RA ALLYN / ..ELLEN
And from 'The Singing Tradition of Child's Popular Ballads':

BARBARA ALLEN
Bronson 84.2
Sharp
Sung by Jane Wheeler 1904

'Twas in the merry month of May
When flowers were all a budding
A young man on his death-bed lay
for the sake of Barb'ra Allen.


BARBARA ALLEN
Bronson 84.12
Sharp
Sung by Jim and Francis Gray 1906

In Scotland I was born and bred,
In Scotland I was dwelling,
when a young man on his deathbed lay
For the sake of barb'rous Allen.

He sent his servant to her house,
To the place where she was dwelling,
saying: You must come to my master's house
If your name is barbarous Allen.

So slowly she put on her clothes,
so slowly she came to him,
and when she came to his bedside,
She says: Young man, you're dying.

A dying man, O don't say so,
For one kiss from you will cure me.
One kiss from me you never shall have
While your poor heart is breaking.

If you look up at my bed hear
You will see my watch a-hanging,
Here is my gold ring and my gold chains
I give it to Barborus Allen.

And if you look down at my bed's foot
You weill see my bowl a-standing,
And in it is the blood I have shed
for the sake of Barbrous Allen.

As I was walking down the fields
and heard some birds a-singing
And as they sung they seemed to say
Hard heated Barbrous Allen.

As I was walking down the lan
And heard some bell a-tolling,
And as they tolled they seemed to say;
hard hearted Barbrous Allen.

As I was walking up the groves
And met his corpse a-coming:
Stop, stop, said she and steam awhile
that I may gaze all on you.

The more she gaxe the more she smile
till she burst out a-laughing,
and her parents cried out: Fie for shame,.
Hard hearted Barbrous Allen.

come mother, make up my bed,
Make it both long and narrow
My true love died for me yesterday
and I will die for him to-morrow.

and he was buried in diamond stone
And she was buried in cold harbor,
And out of him sprung roses red
and out of her sweet briar

It grew and grew so very high
till it could grow no higher
And around the tope growed a true lover's know
and around it twined sweet briar.


BARBARA ALLEN
Bronson 84.14
Chappell

In Scarlet Town, where I was born,
There was a fair maid dwellin'
Made ev'ry youth cry, well-a-day
her name was Barbara Allen.

all in the merry month of May,
When green buds they were swellin'
Young Jemmy Grrove on his death-bed lay,
For love of Barbara Allen.

He sent his man unto her then,
to the town where she was dwellin'
You must come t my master dear,
giff your name be Barbara Allen.

For death is printed on his face,
and o'er his heart is stealin
then haste away to comfort him
O lovely Barbara Allen.

Though death be printed on his face,
and o'er his heart is stealin,
Yet little better shall he be
For bonny Barbara Allen.

S lsowly, slowly, she came up,
And slowly she came nigh him
And all she said, when there she came,
Young man, I think you're dying.

He turn'd his face unto her straight
With deadly sorrow sighing;
O lovely maid, come pity me,
I'm on my death-bed lying.

If on your death-bed you do lie,
what needs the tale you're telling',
I cannot keep you from your theath;
farewell, said Barbara allen.

He turn'd his face unto the wall,
ad deadly pangs he fell in:
Adieu! Adieu! adieu to you all,
Adieu to Barbara Allen.

As she was walkin o'er the fields,
she heard the bell a knellin;
and every stroke did seem to say,
Unworthy Barbara Allen.

she turn'd her body round about,
and spied the corps a coming
Lay down, lay down the corpse, she said,
That I may look upon him

With scornful eye she looked down,
Her cheek with laughter swellin';
Whilst all her friends cried out amian,
Unworthy Barbara Allen.

When he was dead, and laid in grave,
Her heart was struck with sorrow,
O mother, mother, make my bed,
for I shall die to-morrow.

Har hareted creature him to slight,
who loved me so dearly:
O that I had been more kind to him
when he was alive and near me!

she, on her death-bed as she lay,
begg'd to be buried by him
And sore repented of the day
That she did e'er deny him

Farewell, she said, ye virgins all,
and shun the fault I fell in:
Henceforth take warning by the fall
Of Cruel Barbara Allen.




BARBARA ALLEN
Bronson 84.28
Broadwood
Noted by Mrs. Grahame from the daughters of a Kentish Squire
(the last of whom died in 1865)


In Scarlet Town where I was born
There was a fair maid dwellin'
Made ev'ry heart cry "Well-a-day!"
Her name was Barb'ra Allen.
All in the merry month of May,
when green buds they were swellin',
Young Jemmy Grove on his death bed lay
for the love of Barb'ra Allen.



BARB'RA ALLYN
Bronson 84.30
Sung by Elizabeth Cronin
Collected Jean Ritchie

It was early early in the summer-time
when the flowers were freshly springing,
a young man came from the North Country
Fell in love with Barb'ra Allyn,
Fell in love with Barb'ra Allyn
A young man came from the North country,
fell in love with Barb'ra Allyn.

He fell sick and very very bad
And more inclined to dying.
He rode till he 'ruv to the old house room
to the place where she was dwwelling
To the place where she was dwelling
He rode till he 'ruv to the old house room
To the place where she was dwelling.

very slowly she got up
And slowly she came to him
the first word she spoke when she came there
was, Young man, I fear you're dying,
Young man I fiear you're dying,
The first word she spoke when she came there
Was, Young man, I fear you're dying.

Dyiung, dying, doesn't matter at all, he said,
On kiss from you would cure me,
On kiss from me you ne'er shall see,
If I thought your heart was breaking,
If I thought your heart was breaking,
One kiss from me you ne'er shall see,
If I thought your heart was breaking.


BARBARA ALLEN
Bronson 84.33
Kidson
Benjermin Holgate - learned circa 1850

In Reading town, where I was born,
there was a fair maid dwelling,
Made every lyouth cry, Well-a-day!
Her name was Barbara Allen.





BARBARA ELLEN
Bronson 84.38
Creighton and Senior
sung by Mrs. Dennis Greenough

O early in the month of May,
The birds were sweetly singing,
a young man on his death bed lay
for the love of Barbara Ellen.

He turned his back unto the wall.

Out of her sprung a red rose bush
and out of his a briar,
then they grew up to the high church wall
till they could frow no higher,
and back they returned in a true lover's knot
Red roses and sweet briar.



BONNY BARBARA ALLAN
Johnson -1790
Bronson 84.40
Child 84A

IT was in and about the Martinmas time,
When the green leaves were a falling,
That Sir John Graeme, in the West Country,
Fell in love with Barbara Allan.

He sent his men down through the town,
To the place where she was dwelling:
`O haste and come to my master dear,
Gin ye be Barbara Allan.'

O hooly, hooly rose she up,
To the place where he was lying,
And when she drew the curtain by,
`Young man, I think you're dying.'

`O it's I'm sick, and very, very sick,
And 'tis a' for Barbara Allan:'
`O the better for me ye's never be,
Tho your heart's blood were a spilling.

`O 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?'

He turnd his face unto the wall,
And death was with him dealing:
`Adieu, adieu, my dear friends all,
And be kind to Barbara Allan.'

And slowly, slowly raise she up,
And slowly, slowly left him,
And sighing said, she coud not stay,
Since death of life had reft him.

She had not gane a mile but twa,
When she heard the dead-bell ringing,
And every jow that the dead-bell geid,
It cry'd, Woe to Barbara Allan!

`O mother, mother, make my bed!
O make it saft and narrow!
Since my love died for me to-day,
I'll die for him to-morrow.'




BARBARY ALLEN
Bronson 84.52
Campbell

He sent his servant down to say
In the place where she was dwelling
Oh, come, oh come to my master's bed
If your name by Barbary Allen.


BARBARA ALLEN
Bronson 84.60
Wilkinson
Sung by Jane Morris 1935

'Twas in the merry month of May,
the green buds they were a-swelling,
Young Jimmy mourned on his death ed,
for the love of Barb'ra Allen

He sent his men unto her then,
In the town where she was dwelling,
You must go to my master,
If your name be Barb'ra Allen.

So slowly she put on her clothes,
so slowly came anigh him,
the word she said when she got there:
Young man I think you're dying.

He turned his back onto her then,
and death was on him dealt;
Adieu, adieu, to my friends all,
Fare well to Barb'ra Allen.

So many miles she went from there,
She heard the bells a-knelling,
And every stroke did seem to say:
Hard hearted Barb'ra Allen.

She turned her body round and about,
she spied the corpse a-coming
Sit down, sid down, the body: says she
That I may look upon it.

so scornful she did look at him.
His cheeks were not a-swelling,
Her friends were crying out for shame.
hear hearted Barb'ra Allen

Young Jimmy died, it might be today,
and Allen died tomorrow,
You Jimmy died for pure, pure love,
Young Allen died for sorrow.




BARBARA ALLEN
Bronson 84.63
Wilkinson
Sung by R. H. Mace 1935


It was in the merry month of May
when green buds they were swelling
a young man on his death-bed lay
for the love of Barb'ra Allen.

He sent the message thru' the town
where this young girl was dwelling.
You must unto my master go
If your name be Barb'ra Allen.

Oh slowly, slowly, she got up
and slowly she went to him.
And when she came to his bed-side
Young man I believe you're dying.

O do you remember in yonder's town?
In yonder's town a-drinking?
You passed your glasses all around
And slighted Barb'ra Allen.

He turned his pale face to the wall
And sorrow was his leaving.
Adieu, adieu to the pretty girls all
Adieu to Miss Barb'ra Allen.

Oh she went walking thru the town,
she heard the church bell tolling.
And every tone it seemed to say
hard hearted Barb'ra Allen.

Oh she went raging thru the town,
she saw the corpse a-coming
Set down, set down, those corpse: she said,
And let me gaze upon him.

The more she looked the worse she cried,
the farther she got from him.
siad: If I had been more kind to you
when I were closer to you.

Young Jimmy was buried in the new church-yard
Barb'ra Allen was buried in the choir.
Out of youn Jimmy's grave, thre sprung a red rose,
out of Barb'ra Allens grave, a green brier.

They growed, they growed to the church steeple top,
till they could grow no higher.
They linked and tied in a true-lover's know
The rose wrapped around the brier.



BARBARA ELLEN
Bronson 84.78
Sharp
Sung by John Lewis 1917

Early early in the spring
The green buds they were swellin
Sweet William on his death-bed lay
For love of Barbra Ellen


BABIE ALLAN
Bronson 84.79
Harris

It fell about the Martmas time
When green leaves they war fallin';
That Sir John graham o'th North Kintrie
Fell in love wi Bawbie Allan


BARBARA ALLEN
Bronson 84.94
Kidson - 1891

In Scotland I was born and bred,
O, there it was my dwelling;
I courted there a pretty maid,
O, her name was Barbara Allen.

I courted her in summer time,
I courted her in winter;
For six long years I courted her,
A-thinkin I should win her.




BARBRY ELLEN
Bronson 84.142
Ritchie
As Sung by the Ritchie Family

In Scarlet town where I was born
There was a fair maid dwellin
Made every yout cry well-a-day
And her name was barby Ellen.

All in the merry month of May
When the breen buds they were swellin,
Young William Green on his deathbed lay
for love of Barby Ellen.

He sent his servant to the town
To her own father's dwellin,
Sayin master's sick and he bids you to come
If your name be Barbry ellen.

so sloylye, slowlye, she got up
and slowlyue she came nigh him,
And all she said when she got there,
Young man I believe your're dying.

O yes I'm sick and I'm very sick
and I never will be any better,
Until I gain the love of one
The love of Barbry Ellen.

O yes you're sick and you're very sick
And you never will be any better,
for you never will gain the love of one
the love of barbry ellen.

O don't you remember in yonders town,
In yonders town a-drinkin'?
You drunk the health of the ladies all round
and you lighted Barbry ellen.

O yes, I remember in yonders town,
In yonders town a-drinkin;
I have my health to the ladies all round,
but my heart to Barbry Ellen.

He turned his pale face to the wall,
For death was on him dwellin,
Farewell, farewell, you good neighbors all,
Be hind to Barbry ellen.

As she was going across the field
she heard the death-ells knellin;
And every stroke they seemed to say,
Hard hearted Barbry Ellen.

As she was going through the woods
she say the pale corpse comin;
Lay down, lay down that corpse of clay
That I may look upon him.

The more she looked, the more she grieved
As last she burst out a-cryin,
O take him away, O take him away,
For I myself am dyin.

O Mother, O Mother, go make my bed,
Go make it both long and narrow,
Sweet William has died for the love of me,
and I shall die of sorrow.

O Father, O Father, go dig my grave,
Go didg it both long and narrow,
Sweet William has died for me today,
And I'll die for him tomorrow.

O she was buried in the old church-yard,
Sweet William was buried a-nigh her
and out of his grave srung a red, red rose,
Out of Barbry's grew a greenbriar.

the gre and they grew up the old church tower
Till they couldn't grow any higher
And there they tied a true lovers knot
red Rose around greebriar.




BARBRY ELLEN
Bronson 84.156
Ritchie
Sung by Jimmy Stewart

In London I was bred and born,
In Scotland was my dwellin, O
I fell in love with a nice young girl
And her name was Barbru Allan, o
And her name was Barbru Allan, o

I courted her for seven long years;
I could nae cort her langer, o
but I fell sick and bvery ill
and I sent for Barbru Allan, o
And I sent for Barbru Allan, o

It's when she came tae my bed side
she says Youn man you're dying, 0
O dying, I said it cannot be
One kiss from you will cure me, 0
One kiss from me you'll never get
Long's your hard heart's a breakin, o
Long's your hard heart's a breakin, o

O turn my back untae the wa'
And my face frae Barbru Allan,
It's adieu to me and adieu to you,
Be kind tae Barbru Allan, o
Be kind tae Barbru Allan , o

But loook ye up at my bed-heid
And you'll see what you'' see hangin there,
A guinea gold watch and a silver chian
Gae that tae Barbru Allan, o
Gae that tae Barbru Allan, o

But look ye doun at my bed fet
and you'll see what you'll see stan'in there,
A china basin fu' o' teras
Was shed bro Barbru allan, o

She was not one mile frae the toun
she heard the deid bells tollin, o
and every toll they seemed to say
Hard hearted Barbru allan, o
Hard hearted Barbru Allan, o

O Mother, Mother, make my bed,
and make it long and narrow,
My true love died for me today,
and I'll die for him tomorrow.