Barbara Allan- Southern Warbler (SC) 1845
[From: Southern Warbler (South Carolina) 1845. This is the same text as the 1929 Boston broadside with minor spelling changes and is a reprint of Child A.
R. Matteson 2012]
THE SOUTHERN WARBLER:
A NEW COLLECTION OF PATRIOTIC, NATIONAL, NAVAL, MARTIAL, PROFESSIONAL, CONVIVIAL, HUMOROUS, PATHETIC, SENTIMENTAL, OLD, AND NEW SONGS.
CHARLESTON. PUBLISHED BY BABCOCK & CO. 1845.
BARBARA ALLAN
It was in and about the Martinmas time,
When the green leaves were a-fallin',
That Sir John Graham, in the west countrie,
Fell in love wi' Barbara Allan.
He sent his man down through the town,
To the place where she was dwallin'.
O, haste and come to my master dear,
Gin ye be Barbara Allan.
O, hooly, hooly, rase she up
To the place where he was lyin',
And when she drew the curtain by,
Young man, I think ye're dyin'.
It's oh, I'm sick, I'm very sick,
And it's a' for Barbara Allan.
O, the better for me ye'se never be,
Though your heart's blude were a-spillin'.
Oh, dinna ye mind, young man, she said,
When ye was in the tavern a-drinkin',
That ye made the healths gae round and round,
And slichtit Barbara Allan?
He turn'd his face unto the wa',
And death was with him deal in':
Adieu, adieu, my dear friends a',
And be kind to Barbara Allan.
And slowly, slowly rase she up,
And slowly, slowly left him,
And sighin', said, she could not stay,
Since death of life had reft him.
She hadna gane a mile but twa,
When she heard the deid-bell ringin',
And every jow that the deid-bell gied,
It cried, Woe to Barbara Allan.
Oh, mother, mother, mak' my bed,
And mak' it saft and narrow;
Since my love died for me to-day,
I'll die for him to-morrow.