Barbara Allen- Tucker (MD) pre1943 Carey
[From the repertoire of Alice Ridgeway Tucker (d. 1944) of Davidsonville, Maryland; preserved by her daughter and granddaughter.
R. Matteson 2015]
Barbara Allen - from Alice Ridgeway Tucker - before 1944.
1. It was all in the month of May,
And the green buds they were swelling;
Sir Jimmy roamed in the west country,
Fell in love with Barbara Allen.
2. "O what's your name, my bonny lass,
And where may you be dwelling?"
She answered him in a modest way,
"My name is Barbara Allen."
3. He sent his men down through the town,
To the place where she were dwelling;
"O haste, and come to my master dear,
If you be Barbara Allen."
4. O boldly, boldly rose she up
To the place where he was lying,
And when she drew the curtain by,
"Young man, I think you're dying. "
5. "O I am sick, I am very sick;
And I am nigh the dying;
One kiss or two from those sweet lips
Will save me from a dying. "
6. "O not a kiss would I give you
If your poor heart were breaking;"
"O die, O die, I surely will die
If I don't get Barbara Allen."
7. "O don't you know, young man, " she said.
'When you were in the tavern drinking,
That you made your health go all around
And slighted Barbara Allen?"
8. He turned his face unto the wall,
And death with him was dealing;
"Adieu, adieu, my friends and all,
And be kind to Barbara Allen. "
9. Slowly, slowly, rose she up,
And slowly left him dying;
And sighing said she could not stay
Since death of life had reft him.
10. She had not gone but a mile or two,
When she heard death bells a tolling;
And every toll, it seemed to say,
"Cruel-hearted Barbara Allen."
11. As she was going across the fields,
She spied cold corpse a coming;
"Lie down, lie down, cold corpse, " said she,
"And let me gaze upon you. "
12. And as she gazed upon the corpse,
Her face with laft [sic] was swelling,
And all the friends that stood around
Cried, "Cruel-hearted, Barbara Allen. "
13. "O Mother, O Mother, make my bed,
And make it soft and narrow,
For if Jimmy died for me today,
I'll die for him tomorrow. "