Barbara Allen- Irish (GA) 1950 Morris B
[From Morris- Folksongs of Florida, 1950; version B. An excerpt from end-notes follows.
This is likely 30 years older at least,
R. Matteson 2015]
BONNY BARBARA ALLEN
(Child, No. 84)
This is Florida's favorite English, Scottish, and American popular ballad. Numerous variants have been recorded.
B. "BARBARA ALLEN." Recorded from the singing of Mrs. E. I. Irish, Sanford, who learned the song from her mother, a native of Georgia.
It was in the merry month of May
And all the birds were singing;
Sweet William on his death bed lay
For the love of Barbara Allen.
He sent his servants to the town;
He sent them to her dwelling;
"My master's sick; he says go there,
Please, Miss Barbara Allen."
So slowly, slowly, she got up
And slowly she went to him;
And the first words she spake to this young man was
"Young man, I think you're dying."
"Oh yes, oh yes, I'm very sick,
And death is near my dwelling;
No better, no better, I'll ever be
If I cant get Barbara Allen."
"Oh yes, oh yes, you're very sick,
And death is near your dwelling;
No better, no better you'll never be
Because you can't get Barbara Allen."
He turned his pale face to the wall
And burst out into crying;
He bid farewell to the ladies all around
And adieu to Barbara Allen.
She wheeled, she wheeled, she turned all 'round,
And started off a-laughing.
She scarcely got a mile away,
When she heard the death bell tolling.
She stopped and looked up and down the street
And saw his coffin coming;
She cried, "Oh Lord, what shall I do,
Shall I go and meet his coffin?"
"Unfold, unfold that lily-white sheet,
And let me kiss my darling;
Sweet William died for me today,
And I'll die for him tomorrow."
Sweet William died on Saturday night,
And Barbara died on Sunday.
Her mother died for the love of her
And died on Easter Sunday.
Sweet William was buried in the king's church yard,
And Barbara was buried beside him
From William's grave sprang a milk-white rose,
From Barbara's sprang a briar.
They grew, they grew so very tall
That they couldn't grow any taller
They lapped and they tied in a true lovers' knot
For all true lovers to admire.