Barbry Allen- Woody (NC) c. 1930 Lunsford C
[My date, corrected title, and designation: version B (there are 7 versions in this collection; one version by Beatrice Dorsey was obviously copied from print and will not be included). From the Southern Appalachian Archives, Liston B. Ramsey Center for Regional Studies, Mars Hill University; Bascom Lamar Lunsford Collection, Box 69, Folder B; School collection.
The School Collection is from students at local schools from c. 1925-1935. Minor editing for spelling, capitalization and punctuation.
R. Matteson 2015]
Barbry Allen [1] from Motelle Woody[2] Meadow Fork Madison Co -- 16 years old
1. Was early early in the spring
when green buds thy were swelling
there was a young man taken sick love
sick for barbry allen.
2. He sent his servant down to town
where barbre she was dwelling
my master is love sick for you
if your name is barbry allen
3. So slowly slowly she put on
slowly she went unto him
when she got there made this reply
young man I thank you're dying
4. yes I'm sick and very sick
and death is dealing with me
and no better will I'll be
till I get my barbry allen
5. If you're sick and very sick
and death is dealing with you
and none the better will you be
if you wait for barbry allen.
6. He turned his pale face two the wall
he turned his back unto them
adieu, adieu my kindred and friends
be kind to barbre allen.
7. she had not rode a mile from town
till she heard the church bells ringing
and as they ring they seem to say
hard hearted barbre allen.
8. she look to the east she look to the west
she saw the cold corpse coming
says lay him down upon the ground
and let me look upon him
9. The more she looked the more she wept
till bursted out to crying
she cried and cried untill she died
Twas all for barbry allen
10. They burried him in the old church yard
they burried her be side him
and from his grave grew a bright red rose
and from her a brier
11. They grew to the top of the old church house
where they could not grow no higher
and there they tied in a true lover's knot
the red rose and the brier.
1. Barbre Allen
2. Name appears also as Motelle Wood