Barbara Allen- Thacker (GA) 1980 Rosenbaum
[From Folk Visions and Voices: Traditional Music and Sing in North Georgia; Rosenbaum, 1983. His notes follow.
R. Matteson 2015]
This is certainly the most widely known and sung of the old British ballads throughout the English-speaking world. We have recorded three good texts and tunes in north Georgia, from Kate Quinton in Pickens County and from Vaughn Eller in Towns County (see Flyright LP 546), and this fine if typical version frorn Mrs Thacker. Hedy West recorded a version she learned in north-central Georgia on Folk Legacy LP FSA 32. Library of Congress LP AAFS L54,
Barbara Allen - Sung by Maude Thacker; Tate, Pickens County August 2, 1980.
It was in the pleasant month of May,
When the green buds they were swellin',
young Willie on his death bed lay
For the love of Barbara Allen.
He sent his servant to the town,
and sent him to a dwellin'
Saying, "Here's a letter my master sent to you,
If your name be Barbara Allen."
She took the letter out of his hand,
And then she laughed and lingered;
You'll never see another better day,
For you'll never get Barbara Allen.
So slowly, slowly she got up,
And slowly she went to him;
She slowly passed the curtains by,
"Young man, I think you're dying."
"Oh yes, I'm sick, and very sick,
My heart is almost broken;
But you'll never see another better day,
For you'll never get Barbara Allen."
6. She started on her high way home
She heard the corpse a-coming,
And ever' knock the death bell give,
Was, "Woe to Barbra Allen."
7. She went on home that very day
"Mother make my bed long and narrow
Sweet William died for me today,
I'll die for him tomorrow.
Willie died on Saturday night,
Barbara died on Sunday:
The old woman died for the love of both
And was buried on Easter Monday.
Willie was buried in one church yard
And Barbara in the other.
A rose bush sprung from Willie's grave
And a briar from Barbara Allen.
They grew and they grew to the old church wall
Where they could not grow any higher
They tied themselves in a true love's knot
To make young people wiser.