Barbara Allen's Cruelty- (MO) 1903 Belden B
[From: Old-Country Ballads in Missouri II by H. M. Belden; The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 19, No. 75 (Oct. - Dec., 1906), pp. 281-299. Version E in JAF.
Also in Ballads and Songs, 1940; version B,
R. Matteson 2012, 2015]
CHILD 84. - Barbara Allen
B. BARBARA ALLEN'S CRUELTY-
Collected b y Miss Williams, who, however, failed to give her source for it.
In . . . town where I was born
There was a fair maid dwelling
Made every youth cry, Welaway:
Her name was Barbara Allen.
All in the merry month of May,
When the green buds were a-swelling,
Young Jemmy Groves on his deathbed lay,
For love of Barbara Allen.
He sent this man unto her then
To the town where she was dwelling:
"You must come to my master dear,
If your name be Barbara Allen.
"For death is printed on his face,
And o'er his heart is stealing;
Then haste away to comfort him,
O lovely Barbara Allen."
"Though death is printed on his face,
And o'er his heart is stealing,
Yet little better shall he be
For bonnie Barbara Allen."
Then slowly, slowly rose she up
And slowly came she to him,
And all she said when she came there
Was, "Young man, I think you're dying.
He turned his face unto her straight,
With deadly sorrow sighing;
" O lovely maid, come pity me,
I'm on my deathbed lying."
"If on your deathbed you do lie,
What needs the tale you're telling?
I cannot keep you from your death;
Farewell," said Barbara Allen.
He turned his face unto the wall
As deathly pangs he fell in.
"Adieu, adieu unto you all;
Adieu to Barbara Allen!"
As she was walking o'er the fields
She heard the bell a-tolling,
And every stroke did seem to say
"Unworthy Barbara Allen."
She turned her body round about
And spied the corpse a-coming.
"Lay down, lay down the corpse," she said,
"That I may look upon him."
With scornful eyes she looked down,
Her cheeks with laughter swelling,
While all her friends cried out amain,
" Unworthy Barbara Allen! "
When he was dead and in his grave
Her heart was struck with sorrow.
" O mother, mother, make my bed,
For I shall die to-morrow.
"Hard-hearted creature him to slight
Who loved me so dearly;
Oh, that I had been more kind to him
When he was alive and near me."
She as she on her deathbed lay
Begged to be buried by him,
And sore repented of the day
That she did e'er deny him.
"Farewell," she cried, "ye virgins all,
And shun the fault I fell in;
Henceforth take warning from the falls
Of cruel Barbara Allen.