Barbry Allen- W. F. Bell (AR) 1960 Parler H
[My title. From Ozark Collection (No. 8); Collected by Randy Terry for M. C. Parler; Reel 338, Item 2.
R. Matteson 2015]
Barbry Allen- sung by Mrs. W.F. Bell of Fayetteville, Ark. on January 10, 1960.
Listen: http://digitalcollections.uark.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/OzarkFolkSong/id/190/rec/8
In Scarlet town, where I was born,
There was a fair maid dwelling,
Made every youth cry, well-away,
For her name was Barbry Allen.
All in the merry month of May
When green buds they were swelling,
Sweet William on his death-bed lay
For the love of Barbry Allen.
He sent his servant to the town,
To the place where she was dwelling,
Saying, Hasten away and come with me,
If your name be Barbry Allen.
So slowly, slowly she rose up
And slowly she came nigh him,
And all she said when there she came,
Young man, I think you're dying.
Oh, yes, I'm sick and very sick,
And death is on me dwelling,
No better, no better I'll never be
If I can't have Barbry Allen.
Do you remember in yonders town,
When you were at the tavern,
You drank a toast to the ladies all around
But you slighted Barbry Allen?
Oh, yes, I remember in yonders town
When I was at the tavern,
I gave a toast to the ladies all around
But my heart to Barbry Allen.
If on your death-bed you do lie,
What needs this tale you're telling?
I cannot keep you from your death;
Farewell, said Barbry Allen.
As she was on her highway home,
She spied his corpse a-coming,
Sit down, sit down this corpse of clay
That I may look upon him.
The more she looked, the more she wept,
Till she fell to the ground a-crying;
Oh, Pick me up and carry me home,
For now I am a-dying.
O Father, O Father, go dig my grave,
Go dig it long and narrow,
Sweet William died for me today,
I'll die for him tomorrow.
Upon her grave there grew a red rose,
On William's grave grew a briar;
They twined and they twined in a true-lover's knot
And the rose grew around the briar.