Barbara Allen- McCoy (GA) 1914 Sharp A
[From: English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians I, 1917 and 1932. This was collected by Rawn in Georgia and given to Campbell.
R. Matteson 2012, 2015]
Barbara Allen- McCoy (GA) 1914 Sharp A
1. In yonders town where I was born,
There lived three maidens dwelling,
The only one that I call my own,
Her name was Barb'ra Allen.
2 I was taken sick, so very sick,
Death on my brows were dwelling.
I sent for the only one I loved,
Her name was Barbara Allen.
3 I am sick, so very sick,
Death on my brows are dwelling,
And none of the better will I ever be
Till I get Barbara Allen.
4 You remember the day, the bright groom day,
When you passed your dranks so willing?
You gave your dranks to the ladies all,
But you slighted Barbara Allen.
5 I remember the day, the bright groom day,
When I passed my dranks so willing.
I gave my dranks to the ladies all,
And my love to Barbara Allen.
6 He turned his pale face to the wall
And bursted out to crying.
She turned her back on Sweet Willie's bed
And tipped downstairs a-smiling.
7 I had not got but a mile from the place
Till I heard his death-bells ringing,
And as they rung they seemed to say:
Hard-hearted Barbara Allen.
8 I looked to the East, I looked to the West,
I saw his coffin coming.
Lay down, lay down his cold, clay corpse
And let me gaze upon him.
9 I went right home to my mother dear,
Says: Make my death bed long and narrow.
Sweet Willie has died for me to-day,
I'll die for him tomorrow.
10 Sweet Willie he died like as to-day,
And Barbara as tomorrow;
Sweet Willie died with the purest love,
And Barbara died with sorrow.
11 Sweet Willie was buried in one churchyard,
And Barbara in another.
A rose bud sprang from Willie's grave,
And a briar from Barbara Allen's.
12 They grew and they grew to the tall church door;
They could not grow any higher.
They linked and tied in a true love's knot
And the rose wrapped around the briar.