Barb'ra Allen- Petroske (AR) c.1942 Parler I
[Three fragmented stanzas from Ozark Collection (No. 9); Collected by Mary Shand. Transcribed by M. C. Parler Reel 423, Item 3.
R. Matteson 2015]
Note: (Three scattered, standard stanzas. Not transcribed.)
Barb'ra Allen- sung by Louise Petroske of Elkins, Ark. on September 30, 1963. Learned in early 40s.
Listen: http://digitalcollections.uark.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/OzarkFolkSong/id/2245/rec/9
Was in Scarl town, where I was born,
There was a fair maid dwellin',
Made ever so fair[1], it seemed to say,
Hard hearted Barb'ra Allen.
O Father, O Father, go dig my grave,
Go dig it long and narrow,
Sweet Ellen[2] died for pure true love
And I shall die of sorrow.
They buried him in the old church yard
And Barbara was buried nigh him,
On William's grave grew pretty red rose
And on Barb'ra's grave a briar.
1. this part of the first and the next stanza are confused
2. William not Ellen