Barbara Allen- Parno (NC) c1939 Abrams MS LV5
[No original informant named, "Parno" written in pencil on top right corner. From Amos Abrams Collection, Appalachian State University Digital Collections; Lyric variant 5.
William Amos “Doc” Abrams (1905-1991), originally from Pinetops in Edgecombe County, North Carolina, was chairman of the English Department at Appalachian State Teacher’s College (ASTC) from 1932 to 1946. The W. Amos Abrams Folksong Collection, presented online as part of the Documenting Appalachia digital initiative, consists of approximately 1,100 document pages that comprise some 400 individual song titles, most of which have multiple variants.
R. Mateson 2015]
Barbara Allen- (Lyric no. 5) Abrams collection
It was in the merry month of May,
When the flowery buds were swelling,
Young Willie Gray on his death-bed lay
For the love of Barbara Allen.
He sent hie servant to the town
Go tell her to come and see him;
And slowly, slowly she arose,
And slowly went to see him.
And when she got there all she said,
"Young man, I think you're dying,
And die, oh die, oh die you may!
You can't get Barbara Allen."
I'm low, I'm low, I'm low indeed,
And death is in me dwelling;
But never better ill I be,
If I can't get Barbara Allen.
Won't you remember the other day
When we were at the tavern drinking,
You drank a toast to the ladies all
And slighted Barbara Allen.
Yes I remember the other day
When we were at the tavern drinking ,
I drank a toast to the ladies all
And three to Barbara Allen.
Do you remember the other night
When we were at the ball-room dancing,
You gave your hand to the ladies all
And slighted Barbara Allen?
Yes I remember the other night
When we ere at the ball-room dancing,
I gave my hand to the ladies all
And my heart to Barbara Allen.
He turned his pale face to the wall,
He turned his back upon her,
And said, "Adieu, adieu to all,
Adieu to Barbara Allen."
She turned around and started away,
She heard the death bells ringing;
And all the tune that she could hear
"Was cruel Barbara Allen."
She looked to the east, she looked to the west,
Till she saw the corpse a-coming,
And heard her friends all crying loud,
"Hard-hearted Barbara Allen."
Oh, lay him low, oh, lay him low!
That I may look upon him;
Oh, that I'd been more kind to him!
When he was alive and near me.
Oh, mother, mother make my bead,
Oh, make it long and narrow!
Sweet Willie died for love to-day,
And I must die from sorrow.
Young Willie was buried in an old church-yard,
And Barbara buried by him.
There sprang a rose from Willie's grave,
And a briar grew forth from Barbara's.
They grew, they grew, till they grew no higher,
they reached the old church tower;
They grew till they twined in a true love's knot
For all true lovers to admire.