Barbary Allen- Stanley (IO-IL) pre1876 Stout A
[From Folklore from Iowa, collected and edited by Earl J. Stout, 1936 p. 8.
R. Matteson 2015]
Barbary Allen- As sung by Miss Edith Stanley, Massena, who learned it from her father, John W. Stanley, who learned it from his mother at least 60 years ago.
1. In Scarlet town where I was born
There was a fair maid dwelling,
And every youth cried well-a-way
Her name was Barbary Allen,
Her name was Barbary Allen,
Her name was Barbary Allen.
All in the merry month of May,
When green buds they were swellin',
Young Jenny[1] Groves on his death-bed lay,
For the love of Barbary Allen.
2. He sent his man unto her then
To the town where she did dwell in,
Saying, "You must come to my master,
If your name be Barbary Allen,
I! you' name be Barbary Allen,
It your name be Barbary Allen.
For death is printed on his face,
And o'er his heart be stealin'
Then haste away to comfort him,
Oh! lovely Barbary Allen."
3. Though death be printed on his face
And o'er his heart be stealin',
Yet little better shall he be
For bonny Barbary Allen,
For bonny Barbary Allen,
For bonny Barbary Allen.
So slowly, slowly she came up,
And slowly she came nigh him,
And all she said when there she came,
"Young man, I think you're dying."
4. He turned his face unto her straight,
With deadly sorrow sighing,
'Oh! pretty maid, come pity me,
I'm on my death-bed lying,
I'm on my death-bed lying,
I'm on my death-bed lying."
"If on your death-bed you do lie,
What need's the tale you're telling?
I cannot keep you from your death,
Farewell!" said Barbary Allen.
5. He turned his face unto the wall,
And death was with him dealin',
Adieu, adieu, my friends all,
Adieu to Barbary Allen,
Adieu to Barbary Allen,
Adieu to Barbary Allen.
As she was walking o'er the fields,
She heard the bells a knellin',
And every stroke did seem to say,
"Unworthy Barbary Allen."
6. 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,
That I may look upon him,
That I may look upon him."
With scornful eyes she looked down,
Her cheeks with laughter swelling,
Whilst all her friends cried out amain,
"Unworthy Barbary Allen!"
7 When he was dead and in his grave,
Her heart was struck with sorrow,
"O Mother, Mother, make my bed
For I shall die tomorrow,
For I shall die tomorrow,
For I shall die tomorrow.
Hard-hearted creature, him to slight,
Who loved me so dearly;
O! that I'd been more kind to him,
When he was alive and near me."
8. She on her death-bed as she lay
Begged to be buried by him;
And sore repented of the day
That she did e'er deny him,
That she did e'er deny him,
That she did e'er deny him.
"Farewell!" she said, "ye virgins all,
And shun the fault I fell in;
Henceforth, take warning by the fall
Of cruel Barbary Allen."
1. probably Jemmy for Jimmy since Jenny is a woman's name.