Lyr Req: Barbara Allen (from Hedy West)

Subject: Lyr Add: BARBARA ALLEN (#84, Hedy West)
From: Roberto
Date: 26 Aug 05 - 04:10 AM

I can't get the first line of the 3d stanza. Thank you. R

BARBARA ALLEN
As recorded by Hedy West on "Old Times and Hard Times", Topic 12T117, 1965.
The basic text is from Uncle Gus Mulkey, with textual and melodic additions from other sources.

In London City where I was born
And where I got my learnin',
I fell in love with a blue-eyed girl
And her name was Barb'ru Allen.

It was in the month of May
When green buds they were swellin';
Young William come from the western states
And he courted Barb'ru Allen.

Sometime then a little later on
When the buds was bloomin',
Young William on his death bed lay
For the love of Barb'ru Allen.

He sent his servant to the town
To the town where she was dwellin':
"My master's sick and he bids you come
If your name be Barb'ru Allen."

Slowly, 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'."

"Oh, yes, I'm sick; I'm very sick
And death is on me dwellin'.
No better, no better I ever shall be
If I can't have Barb'ru Allen."

"Don't you remember the other day?
You was in the tavern drinkin'.
You gave a health to the ladies all around
But you slighted Barb'ru Allen."

"Yes, I remember the other day.
I was in the tavern drinkin'.
I made a health to the ladies all around;
Gave my love to Barb'ru Allen."

He turned his pale face to the wall
For death was drawin' nigh him:
"Farewell, farewell, my dear friends all.
Be kind to Barb'ru Allen."

As she was walkin' o'er the hill
She heard the death-bells knellin',
And every stroke, it seemed to say:
"Hard-hearted Barb'ru Allen."

She looked to the east and looked to the west.
She saw his cold corpse comin'.
The more she looked, the more she wept.
She busted out a-cryin'.

"Lay down, lay down that corpse," she said,
"That I may look upon it."
The more she looked, the more she wept.
She busted out a-weepin'.

"O mother, go and make my bed
And make it long and narrow.
William died for me today;
I'll die for him tomorrow.

"O father, O father, go dig my grave
And dig it deep and narrow.
Young William died for me today;
I'll die for him tomorrow."

They buried them both in the old church-yard.
They buried her beside him.
From William's grave grew a red, red rose.
From Barb'ru's grew a briar.

They grew and grew to the old church top
Till they could grow no higher.
They all tied up in a true love's knot.
The rose run round the briar.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hedy West's Barbara Allen #84
From: Bill D
Date: 26 Aug 05 - 12:56 PM

"sometime then, a little later on"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hedy West's Barbara Allen #84
From: Roberto
Date: 26 Aug 05 - 01:16 PM

Thanks a lot, Bill D. R