Barbry Allen- Reaves (OK) 1963 Parler AA
[From Ozark Collection (No. 31); Collected by Boyd Tackett, Jr. For M.C. Parler. Reel 365, Item 6.
R. Matteson 2015]
Barb'ry Allen- Sung by George Reaves; guitar by Prentis Reaves of Cookson Star Route, Tahlequah, Oklahoma in 1963.
'Twas on the merry month of May
The roses they were blooming
Little William Gray on his death bed lay
For the love of Barb'ry Allen.
They sent a servant to the town
To the place where she were dwelling
Says, unto my master for you to come
If your name be Barb'ry Allen.
Slowly, slowly she got up
And slowly she went to him
And all she said when she got there
Young man, I think your a-dying.
Oh, yes, I'm sick and very sick
And this shall be my dwelling
Never more shall I either be
If I don't get Barb'ry Allen.
Oh, yes, you're sick and very sick
And death shall be your dwelling
Nevermore shall you either be
For you won't get Barbary Allen
And Barb'ry Allen left the room
She left the room a-smiling
And all his friends stand a-weeping around
Hard-hearted Barb'ry Allen.
She had not got but half a mile
Till she heard the death bell ringing
Every time they seemed to say
Hard-hearted Barb'ry Allen.
She placed herself in the chamber door
She saw the corpse a-coming
Oh, bring to me that cold clay corpse
And let me look upon him.
The more she looked the worse she wept
And then turned to her mother
Says mother, oh mother, you're the cause of this
Cause you would not let me have him.
Oh father dear, go dig my grave
And dig it long and narrow
Sweet William died for me today
I'll die for him tomorrow.
Sweet William was buried in one church yard
And Barb'ry in another
Out of William's grave come a sweet, red rose
And out of Barb'ry's a briar.
They grew and grew up the church yard wall
Till they could not grow no higher
They looped and tied in a true love knot
Red rosie and green briar.