Barbara Ellen- Roast (NS) c.1935 Creighton B
[No date given. From Traditional Songs from Nova Scotia, 1950 Creighton and senior. Most of the versions A-G were collected from the 1930s on and are much older than 1950.
Walter Roast of East Chezzetcook recorded this version titled after Child 84, Bonny Barbara Allen, on 07-24-1943 for the LOC.
R. Matteson 2015]
Barbara Ellan [B] Sung by Walter Roast, East Chezzetcook
Photo Walter Roast, East Chezzetcook, 1935
1. It was early early in the spring
When everything was budding,
A young man on his death bed lie
For the love of Barbara Ellen.
2. He sent his servant round the town
To the place where she was dwelling,
"Make haste, make haste," this young man cries,
"If your name is Barbara Ellen."
3. Slowly slowly this maid arose
And slowly she drew near him,
And as she drew the curtains aside,
She says, "Young man you're dying."
4. "A dying man is what I am,
One kiss from you will cure me,"
"One kiss from me you never shall have
If your proud heart is breaking."
5. "Do you remember last Saturday night
While in the ale house drinking?
You drank a health to my friends all round
But none to Barbara Ellen."
6. "Yes I remember last Saturday night
While in the ale house drinking,
I drank a health to my friends all round
But none to Barbara Ellen.
7. "Look up, look up at my bed head,
You'll see my silk tie hanging,
And on it hangs my gold watch and chain
And a ring for Barbara Ellen.
8. "Look down, look down at my bed foot
You'll see a basin standing,
Look into it; it's full of tears
That I shed for Barbara Ellen."
9. He turned his cold face to the wall,
The people heard him saying,
"Farewell farewell to all my friends
But you cruel Barbara Ellen."
10. This maid scarce had gone five miles or more
When she heard the church bells tolling,
And as they tolled, they seemed to say,
"You cruel Barbara Ellen."
11. She scarce had gone five miles or more
When she seen his cold corpse coming,
"Set down, set down that cold, cold corpse
So I can gaze upon him. "
12. This maid went home to her mother dear,
Th.y heard her say in sorrow,
"My true love died for me to-day,
I'll die for him to-morrow. "
13. Now they were buried side by side
Where people could admire.
And from his grave grew a blooming rose
And from her grave a briar.
14. They grew and grew to the steeple top
Where they could not grow no higher,
They formed into a true lover's knot,
For people to admire.