Barb'ra Allen- Atchley (AR) 1960 Parler P
[From Ozark Collection (No. 16); Collected by M.C. Parler; transcribed by Bessie Atchley. Reel 387, Item 1.
R. Matteson 2015]
Barb'ra Allen - Sung by Bessie Atchley of Green Forest, Arkansas July 7, 1960. Learned from her mother when she was a child.
Listen: http://digitalcollections.uark.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/OzarkFolkSong/id/2628/rec/17
In Saxton town, where I was born
There was a fair maid dwellin'
Made every youth cry well-away
And her name was Barb'ra Allen.
All in the early month of May
When the green buds they were swellin'
Sweet William came from the western states
And courted Barb'ra Allen.
It was in the month of June,
When all things they were bloomin'
Sweet William on his death-bed lay
For the love of Barb'ra Allen.
He sent his servant to the town
Where Barb'ra was a dwellin'
"My master is sick, and sent for you
If your name is Barbara Allen."
So slowly, slowly she got up
And slowly she came nigh him,
And all she said when she got there,
Was, young man I think you're dyin'.
"Oh, yes, I'm sick, and very sick
And death is on me dwellin'
No, better, no better I ever can be,
If I can't get Barbara Allen."
"Oh, yes, your sick and very sick,
And death is on you dwellin'
No better, no better you'll ever be
For you can't get Barbara Allen.
Oh, don't you remember in yonder town,
When you were at the tavern
You drank a toast to the ladies all 'round
And slighted Barbara Allen?"
"Oh, yes, I remember in yonder town,
In yonder town a drinkin'
I gave a toast to the ladies all around
But my heart to Barbara Allen.
He turned his pale face to the wall,
He turned his back next to them.
Farewell, farewell to the ladies all around
And farewell to Barbara Allen.
Then slowly, slowly she rose up
And slowly she did leave him
She sighing said she could not stay
While the breath of life was leavin'
As she was walking o'er the fields
She heard the death bells tollin'
And every ring did seem to say
Hard hearted Barbara Allen.
She looked to the east, she looked to the west
She spied his corpse a comin'
"Lay down, lay down that corpse of clay,
That I may look upon him."
The more she looked, the more she mourned,
Till she fell to the ground a cryin'
"Saying take me up and carry me home
For I know that I am dyin'
Oh, Mother, oh, Mother, go make my bed,
Go make it long and narrow.
Sweet William died for pure, pure love,
And I shall die for sorrow.
Oh Father, oh, Father, go dig my grave
Go dig it long and narrow.
Sweet William died for me today,
I'll die for him tomorrow."
She was buried in the old church yard
And he was buried a-nigh her
From William's heart there grew a red rose
From Barbara's grew a green brier.
They grew and they grew, to the old church wall
Till they could grow no higher
And there they tied in a true love knot
For all true lovers to admire.