Barbara Allen- Jones (MS) pre-1926 Hudson D
[From: Ballads and Songs from Mississippi- Arthur Palmer Hudson; The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 39, No. 152 (Apr. - Jun., 1926), pp. 93-194. Version D in Folksongs of Mississippi, 1936 (A-P).
R. Matteson 2012]
4. BONNY BARBARA ALLEN (Child No. 84.)
The fourth of Four texts. For other texts from the South, see Cox, No. 16; Campbell and Sharp, No. 21 ; Wyman and Brockway, p. I; Reed Smith, pp. 104--I16.
Version D- Barbara Allen; Communicated by Miss Aldah Loise Womble, a student in the University of Mississippi; obtained from Mrs. R. C. Jones, Oxford, Mississippi, who sings it.
1. It was in the merry month of June
When all the buds were swelling
Sweet William on his death-bed lay
For the love of Barbara Allen.
2. He sent his servant to the town,
To the place where she was dwelling,
Saying, "Master's sick and sends for you,
If your name be Barbara Allen."
3. Slowly, slowly she arose,
And slowly she went to him,
And all she said when she got there
Was, "Young man, I think you're dying."
4. "Oh, yes, I know I'm very low,
And death is on me dwelling,
And very little better will I ever be
Till I get Barbara Allen."
5. "Oh, yes, I know you're very low,
And I know death's upon you dwelling,
And very little better will you ever be,
For you'll never get Barbara Allen.
6. "Oh, don't you remember the other night,
When at the bar-room drinking,
You passed your health to the ladies all around,
And slighted Barbara Allen?"
7. "Oh, yes, I remember the other night,
When at the bar-room drinking,
I passed my health to the ladies all around,
And respected Barbara Allen."
8. He turned his pale face to the wall
And turned his back upon her,
Says, "Adieu, adieu, to my friends all around,
And farewell to Barbara Allen."
9. She hadn't got more than a mile from the place
When she heard the death-bell ringing,
And every toll it seemed to say,
"Hard-hearted Barbara Allen!"
10. "Go dig my grave in the little churchyard,
Go dig it deep and narrow;
Sweet William died for me in love,
I'll die for him in sorrow."
11. Sweet William was buried on Saturday night,
And she was buried on Sunday,
And the mother died for the love of them both,
And was buried on Easter Monday.
12. They buried her in the little churchyard,
And Willie right beside her;
And from her breast sprang a deep red rose,
And from his breast a brier.
13. They grew till they reached the church steeple tall
And could not grow any higher;
They tied themselves in a true-lovers' knot,
The rose wrapped round the brier.