Barbro Allen- Ulhs (TN-TX) c. 1920 Dobie B
[From Dobie; Tone The Bell Easy, p. 146-148. His notes follow. My date, Edison M. Uhls was born about 1907 in Tennessee.
R. Matteson 2015]
Bonny Barbara Allan
(Child, No. 84)
"Bonny Barbara Allan" is without doubt the most widely known Child ballad in America. Davis (op. cit., pp. 302 ff., gives thirty-six variants. He records collecting ninety-five items with this remark, "Her ninety-two Virginia progeny are something of a record achievement, certainly for a lady who, according to the ballad, scorned her lover. One is thankful she did not encourage him!" In recent years this ballad has been further popularized by phonograph records and radio singers.
B. "Barbro Allen" was contributed by Edison Uhls, of Houston, Texas. He secured it from his uncle, Arthur Scruggs, who learned it in Trousdale county, Tennessee, years ago.
1. It was early in the month of May
The rosebuds they were swelling;
Sweet Willie sick on his deathbed lay
For the love of Barbro Allen.
2, He sent his servants to the town,
And also one to her dwelling,
Saying, "'Willie's sick and sent for you
If your name is Barbro Allen."
8. Slowly, slowly did she rise,
Slowly did go unto him.
Oh, this she said when she got there,
"Young man, I think you are dying."
4. "Oh yes, my love, I am very sick,
And death is hovering 'round me.
I beg one kiss from your sweet lips,
For surely I am dying."
5. "Oh die, young man, Oh die, young man.
You remember at the town,
You drink to right, you drink to left,
You slighted Barbro Allen."
6. He turned his pale face to the wall,
She turned her back upon him;
He seemed to say, "Farewell to all,
Be kind to Barbro Allen."
7. She had not got more than one mile
Till she heard his death-bells ringing;
They rang so loud and clapped so clear,
Saying, "Farewell to Barbro Allen."
8. She had not got more than three miles,
Till she saw his corpse a-coming;
"Oh, bring him here and lay him down,
That I may gaze upon him."
9. The more she looked, the more she wept,
Till she bursted out to crying,
"Oh, carry me home to mother dear,
For surely I am dying."
10. "Oh, Mother dear, go and make my bed,
Make it both neat and narrow;
Sweet Willie died for love today,
And I'll die for grief tomorrow."
11. Sweet Willie was buried in the churchyard
And Barbro buried beside him;
Out of Willie's grave sprang: a bright rose,
And also one from Barbro's.
12. They grew so high in the new churchyard,
Why should they grow any higher?
They looped, they tied in true love knots,
They lived and died together.