Lyr Req: Barbary Allen #84 (Sheila Kay Adams)

Subject: Lyr Req: sheila kay adams' barbary allen #84
From: Roberto
Date: 25 Sep 05 - 03:42 AM

Please, halp with an overall check to this transcription. Thank you. R

In Scarlet town where I was born
There was a fair maid dwelling
Made every youth cry – Well-a-day
And they called her Barb'ry Allen

It was in the month of May
When all gay flowers were a-bloomin'
Sweet William on his death-bed lay
For the want of Barb'ry Allen

He called his servant to his bed
And bad him quickly leave him
To pitch (?) that fair maid to his side
That fair maid Barb'ry Allen

He searched high and he searched low
Till at last he drew nigh her
Saying – Pretty fair maid, come far (?) with me
If your name be Barb'ry Allen

Slowly, slowly she got up
And slowly she drew nigh him
But all she said at his bed-side
Was – Young man, I think you're dyin'

Don't you recall last Saturday night
When wiz (?) all at the tavern
You raised a toast to the ladies all
But you slighted Barb'ry Allen

Yes, I remember last Saturday night
When we gathered at the tavern
I gave a toast to the ladies all
But my heart to Barb'ry Allen

O take it back, I'll keep it not (?)
You've slighted me so sorely
On Saturday night, in the tavern near
I'll serve you just as poor me (?)

He turned his face all t'wards the wall
A sigh did escape him
That night Sweet William breathe (?) his last
On the loss of Barb'ry Allen

As she was ridin' through the town
She heard the death-bells tollin'
And with each stroke they seemed to say:
Hard-hearted Barb'ry Allen!

O mother, O mother, make up my bed
Make it both long and narrow
Sweet William died for me last night
I'll die for him tomorrow

They found her there the very next morn
As thou she sweetly sleepin'
With a note that said – Farewell to all
I'm finished with my grievin'

They buried William in the old graveyard
And Barb'ry they laid nigh him
And out'n his grave grew a blood red rose
And out'n hers a briar

They grew and grew to the graveyard gate
Where they could grow no higher
And there they tied in a true lover's knot
With the rose wrapped 'round the briar

Subject: Lyr Add: BARBARY ALLEN (Sheila Kay Adams)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Sep 05 - 04:05 AM

Say, roberto, did you get this in your latest shipment form CAMSCO? It's a great CD, isn't it?
-Joe Offer-

Here's what I hear:

BARBARY ALLEN
As recorded by Sheila Kay Adams on "My Dearest Dear", 2000.

In Scarlet town where I was born
There was a fair maid dwelling
Made every youth cry – Well-a-day
And they called her Barb'ry Allen

It was in the month of May
When all gay flowers were a-bloomin'
Sweet William on his death-bed lay
For the want of Barb'ry Allen

He called his servant to his bed
And bade him quickly leave him
To fetch that fair maid to his side
That fair maid Barb'ry Allen

He searched high and he searched low
Till at last he drew nigh her
Saying – Pretty fair maid, come fly with me
If your name be Barb'ry Allen

Slowly, slowly she got up
And slowly she drew nigh him
But all she said at his bed-side
Was – Young man, I think you're dyin'

Don't you recall last Saturday night
When we's all at the tavern
You raised a toast to the ladies all
But you slighted Barb'ry Allen

Yes, I remember last Saturday night
When we gathered at the tavern
I gave a toast to the ladies all
But my heart to Barb'ry Allen

O take it back, I'll keep it not
You've slighted me so sorely
Come Saturday night, in the tavern near
I'll serve you just as poorly

He turned his face all t'wards the wall
A sigh it did escape him
That night Sweet William breathed his last
From the loss of Barb'ry Allen

As she was riding through the town
She heard the death-bells tollin'
And with each stroke they seemed to say:
Hard-hearted Barb'ry Allen!

O mother, O mother, make up my bed
Make it both long and narrow
Sweet William died for me last night
I'll die for him tomorrow

They found her there the very next morn
As though she's sweetly sleepin'
With a note that said – Farewell to all
I'm finished with my grievin'

They buried William in the old graveyard
And Barb'ry they laid nigh him
And out'n his grave grew a blood red rose
And out'n hers a briar

They grew and grew to the graveyard gate
Where they could grow no higher
And there they tied in a true lover's knot
With the rose wrapped around the briar

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: sheila kay adams' barbary allen #84
From: Roberto
Date: 25 Sep 05 - 05:10 AM

Yes, it is one of the cds I was waiting for from CAMSCO. I do like it. Thank you, joe, for the corrections to the transcription. R

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barbary Allen #84 (Sheila Kay Adams)
From: GUEST,Page McMillan
Date: 12 Jan 12 - 01:03 AM

Wow. My great grandmother passed this song down to my grandmother & mother...., I never knew it was recorded. The lyrics I know, are very different than both of yours... I can't recall all the words right now after reading other versions, I'll have to have my mother write them down when I see her next.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barbary Allen #84 (Sheila Kay Adams)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 Jan 12 - 01:23 AM

Please do, Page. We would love to see what your grandmother sang.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barbary Allen #84 (Sheila Kay Adams)
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Feb 12 - 06:10 PM

"Come lie with me" would make more sense, under the circumstances! here's a parody to lighten your day:

BARB'RY ALLEN PARODY
(Child #84 - parody by Casey Casebeer, based on Barb'ry Allen 2 in DT database)

In Scarlet Town where I was born
There was a hot girl dwellin'
Made every youth cry well-a-day
Her name was Barb'ry Allen.

'Twas in the merry month of May
When green buds they were swellin'
Sweet William on his death-bed lay
For the love of Barb'ry Allen.

He sent her text messages a-many,
For she had blocked his emails,
Said, "I am sick and very sick
for love of Barb'ry Allen."

Then she put on her skinny jeans,
And speed-walked to his condo,
She brought her mace and pepper spray
In case he was some wierdo

And slowly, slowly she walked up
(the elevator's broken)
And the only word to him did say
"Young man, you must be smokin'."

"Oh, yes, I'm sick, I'm very very sick,
I never will be better,
Until I have the love of one
The love of Barb'ry Allen."

"Oh, ken ye not in yonder club
while drinking Irish coffee,
You bought free drinks for the whole damn bar
But you slighted Barb'ry Allen."

"Oh yes, I ken, I ken it well,
while drinking Irish coffee;
I did not send a glass to you,
I thought you were a vegan."

As she walked out in the green, green fields.
His death bells they were knellin'.
She did not hear a single stroke,
She had cranked up her iPod.

Her eyes looked east, her eyes looked west,
A-searching for a Starbucks
His funeral came and passed her by
While she was checking e-mail.

"Oh, father, oh, father, go dig my grave,
Go dig it deep and narrow.
Sweet William died for me today;
I saw it all on Facebook."

They buried her in the old churchyard,
Sweet William's grave was nigh her,
And from his heart grew a red, red rose,
And from her heart a brier.

They grew and they grew to the old church-top,
Till they could grow no higher,
The passersby took iPhone shots
And it all went viral on YouTube.

CAC