Barbara Allen- Lena Harmon (NC) 1969 Burton REC
From More Ballad Folks; Thomas Burton; 1978. This is one of two versions know by Lena Presnell Harmon. She also knew the old Hicks/Harmon family version that begins:
Way down south where I come from,
That's where I got my learning [etc.]
A complete version was taken from both Sam Harmon's wife (Cades Cove, TN formerly from Beech Mountain, NC) and daughter(Cade's Cove, TN to Varnel, GA). Lena also gave part of it to Thomas Burton (also in More Ballad Folks).
Her father was Lee Monroe Presnell and she sings with Hattie Presnell, who married her brother.
Her text closely resembles the text sung by Nathan Hicks (Brown Collection). Both families are close and have intermarried several times.
R. Matteson 2015]
Barbara Allen (Child 84) - sung by Lena Harmon and Hattie Presnell on March 21, 1969.
1. In Scarlet town where I was born,
There was a fair maid dwellin'
Made every youth cry "Well a-way,"
Her name was Barbara Allen.
2. All in the merry months of May,
When the green buds they were swellin',
Sweet William came from the western states,
And courted Barbara Allen.
3. Then in the lovely month of June,
When all things they were bloomin',
Sweet William on his deathbed lay
For the love of Barbara Allen.
4. He sent his servant to the town
Where Barbara was a-dwellin';
"My master's sick, and he sends for you
If your name be Barbara Allen."
5. "For death is printed on his face
And o'er his heart is stealing;
Oh, come away to comfort him,
Oh, lovely Barbara Allen."
6. So slow, so slowly she got up,
And slowly she came nigh him;
And all she said when she got there,
"Young man, I think you're dyin'."
7. "Oh, Yes, I'm sick and very sick,
And death is on me dwellin';
No better, no better I lever will be
If I can't have Barbara Allen."
8. "Oh, yes, you're sick and very sick,
And death is on you dwellin';
No better, no better you never will be
For you can't have Barbara Allen."
9. "Oh, don't you remember in yonders town,
In yonders tavern a-drinkin'?
You drank a health to the ladies around
And slighted Barbara Allen."
10. "Oh, yes, I remember in yonders town,
In yonders tavern a-drinkin';
I drank a health to the ladies around,
MY heart to Barbara Allen."
11. He turned his face unto the wall;
He turned his back upon her,
"Adieu, adieu to all my friends;
Be kind to Barbara Allen."
12. As she was walkin' through the field,
She beard the bells a-ringin';
They rang so loud they seemed to say,
"Unworthy Barbara Allen."
13. As she was walkin' through the town,
She heard the birds a-singin';
They sang so clear they seemed to say,
"Hardhearted Barbara Allen."
14. She looked to the east, she looked to the west;
She saw the corpse a-comin',
"Lay down, lay down the corpse," she said,
"That I may look upon him."
15. The more she looked, the more she moaned;
She fell on the ground a-cryin',
"Oh, pick me up and carry me home
For I feel like I am dying."
16. "Oh, Mother, oh, Mother, go make my bed;
Go make it long and narrow.
Sweet William died for me today;
I'll die for him tomorrow."
17. "Oh, Father, oh, Father, go dig my grave;
Go dig it long and narrow."
Sweet William died for true, true love,
And I will die from sorrow."
18. They buried her in the old churchyard,
And he was buried nigh her.
On William's grave grew a red, red rose;
On Barbara's grew a green briar.
19. They grew to the top of the old church wall;
They could not grow any higher.
They linked and twined in a true love's knot,
And the rose grew around the brier.