Barba Allen- Scott (TN) c.1912 Anderson D
[From: Geneva Anderson. "A Collection of ballads and songs from East Tennessee." Master's Thesis, University of North Carolina, 1932.
Nora Hicks' version from Masts Gap, NC has the same title.
R. Matteson 2015]
D. Barba Allen. Sent by Mrs. J.D. Scott, Seviersville, Sevier County, She has known this since 1912.
1. All in the beautiful month of May,
When the red buds were swelling,
Sweet William on his death-bed lay,
For the love of Barba Allen.
2. He sent his servants to the town,
To Barba's dwelling,
"Your matser's sick and he calls for you,
If your name be Barba Allen!"
3. So slowly, slowly she got up,
And slowly she went to him,
And the only word she said was,
"Young man, I think you are dying."
4. "Yes, I am sick, and very sick
And death is near my dwelling,
I can't never see my time again,
If I can't get Barba Allen."
5. "Yes, you are sick, and very sick
And death is near your dwelling,
You never can see your time again,
For you can't get Barba Allen."
6. Don't you remember the other night,
While in the ball room a-dancing,
You passed a dance with the ladies all around,
And you slighted Barba Allen?"
7. "Yes I remember the other night,
While in the ball room a-dancing,
I passed a dance with the ladies all,
With the love of Barba Allen?"
8. He turned his pale face to the wall,
His back on Barba,
"Adieu! adieu, to all my friends
Be kind to Barba Allen."
9. So she had scarcely got a mile from town,
When she heard the death bells tolling,
And every stroke did seem to say,
"That cruel Barba Allan!"
10. She looked to the south (she looked to the north)[1]
Till she saw the pale corpse coming,
"Lay down, lay down your corpse of clay
That I may look upon him."
11. So curse by my name
So cursed by my nature,
I might have saved that young man's life,
if I had done my duty[2]."
12. "Go make my bed, dear mother," she said
"Go make it long and narrow,
For Sweet William died for me to-day,
And I for him tomorrow.
13. Sweet William was buried in the old Churchyard
And Barba down beside him;
And out of his grave sprung a red rose bush,
And out of hers a briar.
14. They linked and they tied
in a true-lover's knot,
. . . . [3]
The rose bush and the briar.
1. usually east and west
2 endeavor
3. two lines are actually missing