Barbra Allen- McGinley (TN) 1932 Anderson H
[From: Geneva Anderson. "A Collection of ballads and songs from East Tennessee." Master's Thesis, University of North Carolina, 1932.
R. Matteson 2015]
H. Barbra Allen. Mrs. D. S. McGinley of Maryville, Blount County, sent this version.
1. It was in the merry month of May,
And the merry birds were singing,
When this young man on his death-bed lay,
For the love of Barbra Allen.
2. He sent his servant to the town,
He sent him to her dwelling,
Saying, "Master's sick and very sick,
And death is near his dwelling."
3. Slowly, slowly she got up,
And his bedside going,
And all she said when she got there,
"Young man, I think you're dying."
4 "Yes, I am sick, and very sick
And death is near my dwelling,
I'll never see my time again,
If I can't get Barbra Allen."
5. "Yes, you are sick, and very sick
And death is near your dwelling,
You'll never see your time any more,
For you can't get Barbra Allen."
6. He turned his face toward the wall,
And softly fell to crying,
She turned herself and downstairs went
Hard-hearted Barbara Allen.
7. She hadn't gone more than a mile from town,
Till she heard his death bell tolling,
And every knock it seemed to say,
"Hard-hearted Barbara Allen."
8. "Oh mother, oh mother make my bed
Make it both soft and narrow
Sweet William died for me to-day,
I'll die for him to-morrow."
9. They buried him by the Baptist wall
And Barbra lay beside him,
And out of one grave a red rose sprung
And out of the other's a briar.
10 They grew straight up the Baptist wall,
Till they could grow no higher,
They tied themselves in a true-love's knot
And the rose ran round the briar.