Barb'ra Ellen- Pratt (KY) 1917 Sharp MS
[My title. Single stanza with music as Bronson 90, from Sharp MSS., 4039. Notes from Sharp's diary follow,
R. Matteson 2015]
Sharp diary 1917 page 271. Thursday 20 September 1917 - Hindman
In the morning tramped out 4 miles to Mrs Webb Pratt who sang me 4 or 5 excellent tunes. Back to lunch with Bradley at his hotel and drinks at the drug store afterwards. In the afternoon I spent 2 or more hours with Hilliard Smith who gave me quite a lot of most interesting songs. Back in time for supper at 5.30 and afterwards the girls in the school sang me a lot of songs, some of them very first rate ones. I gave them a talk about the songs and cross examined them afterwards as to what they know and in this way got a lot of splendid songs. One of the best days I have had for a long time and I must have taken down over 30 songs! I am beginning a bad cold in my chest, probably the result of the dance on Tuesday and the wet feet I got going to it. Got a mustard plaster to put on in bed.
"Barb'ra Ellen"- Sung by Mrs. Lucindy Pratt, Hindman, Knott County, Ky., September 20, 1917; Sharp MSS., 4039/.
It was late in the season of the year
When the yellow leaves were falling
Sweet William was taken sick
For the love of Barb'ra Ellen.