Barbara Allen- Pettit (KY) 1907 Kittredge JOAFL
[From: Ballads and Rhymes from Kentucky by G. L. Kittredge; The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 20, No. 79 (Oct. - Dec., 1907), pp. 251-277. His notes follow.
R. Matteson 2012]
BALLADS AND RHYMES FROM KENTUCKY EDITED BY G. L. KITTREDGE
The following ballads and rhymes from the mountains of Kentucky were collected recently by Miss Katherine Pettit of Hindman, Knott County, in that State. Miss Pettit has had the kindness to send the material to the Journal for publication.
BARBARA ALLEN- This is a variation of the common version of "Bonny Barbara Allen" (Child, No. 84). The name of the unhappy lover is Sir John Graeme in Child's A.
1. Late in the season of the year,
When the yellow leaves were falling,
Young James Graham from the west country
Fell in love with Barbara Allen.
2. She was a fair and comely maid,
She soar'd to his dwelling,
Which caused him to admire the more
The beauty of Barbara Allen.
3. It was on a bright day in June,
The buds they were swelling,
This young man he took sick,
And sent for Barbara Allen.
4. So slowly, slowly she got up,
And slowly she walked to him;
She slightly drew the curtains by:
"Young man, I think you're dying."
5. "O yes, I 'm sick, I 'm very sick,
My heart is almost breaking;
But a kiss or two from your sweet lips
Will cure me, Barbara Allen."
6. "O don't you remember in yonders town,
In yonders town, a-drinking,
You drank your health to the ladies around,
And slighted Barbara Allen?"
7. "Yes, I remember in yonders town.
In yonders town a-drinking,
I drank my health to the ladies around,
And slighted Barbara Allen."
8. He turned his pale face to the wall,
His back was turned upon her;
He called to his friends and neighbors around,
"Be kind to Barbara Allen."
9. So slowly, slowly she got up,
And slowly she walked from him;
She thought she could hear her own heart say,
"Go back there, Barbara Allen."
10. She had not got three miles from town
Till she heard the death-bell ringing,
And every ring it seemed to say
"Hard-hearted Barbara Allen!"
11. She looked to the east, and she looked to the west,
She saw his pale corpse coming;
"Go l[a]y ye down that lovely corpse,
And let me look upon him."
12. The more she looked, was the more she grieved;
She burst out a-crying,
Saying, "Take me away, O take me away,
For I am now a-dying.
13. "Cursed be my name," says she,
" And cursed be my nature,
That I might have saved this young man's life
By doing my endeavor!
14. "O mother, go and fix my bed,
Go fix it long and narrow;
Young James has died for me to-day;
I'll die for him to-morrow."
15. Young James was buried in the high churchyard,
Barbara Allen was buried in the higher;
And out of Young James' grave sprang a rose,
And out of Barbara Allen's a briar.
16. They grew and they grew to the high church top;
They could not grow no higher;
They lapped and twined in a true lover's knot,
And the rose outgrew the briar.