Barb'ra Ellen- Gay (GA) 1914 Sharp C
[From: English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians I, 1917 and 1932. This was collected by Rawn in Georgia and given to Campbell.
A different text by Roxie Gay is given in Sharp's MS (CJS1/11/45) at Vaughn Williams Library with a first line: "In London town where I was raised."
R. Matteson 2012, 2015]
Barb'ra Ellen- Gay (GA) 1914 Sharp C
1 One cold and cloudy day in the month of May,
When roses were a- budding.
A young man lay on his deathbed,
In love with Barb'ra Ellen.
2 He sent his servants after her
And for his sake he sent them:
My master's sick and about to die
And for your sake he's dying.
3 Slowly, slowly, she got up,
And went away unto him,
Saying: Kind Sir,
You are pale looking.
4 O yes, my love, I'm mighty sick,
A kiss or two
From your sweet lips
Would save me from this dying.
5 He turned his pale cheeks toward the wall;
She turned her back upon him,
Saying : Kind sir, you're none the better of me,
If your heart's blood was a-spilling.
6 Slowly, slowly she gets up
And goes away and leaves him.
She hadn't rode but a mile in town,
She heard his death bells ringing.
7 They rung so clear unto her ear
That she commence lamenting.
She looked to the East and she looked to the West,
She saw his cold corpse coming.
8 Go bring him here as cold as clay
And let me look upon him.
9 Go and tell to my parents most dear,
Who would not let me have him.
Go and tell to the rest of my kin folk,
Who caused me to forsake him.
10 Sweet Willie was buried on Saturday night,
Barbara was buried on Sunday.
Both of the mothers died for them,
Was buried on Easter Monday
11 Sweet Willie was buried in the new churchyard,
Barbara was buried close beside him.
A red rose grew from sweet Willie's breast,
A briar grew from her feet
12 They grew as high as the new church house,
They could not grow any higher;
They grew and tied in a true love knot,
A rose grew on the briar.