Barbry Ellen- Buna Hicks (NC)1969 Burton REC
[From More Ballad Folks; Thomas Burton; 1978. Buna Hick's (b. 1888) is Rena Hicks' aunt (Rena married Nathan Hicks, father of ray Hicks and father-in-law of Frank Proffitt). Buna played the fiddle and was married to Roby Monroe Hicks.
Buna's version is related to the more modern Hicks/Harmon version sung by Lena Harmon and Hattie Presnell (also found in 'More Ballad Folks').
Stanza 8 is rare and not found in many versions.
R. Matteson 2015]
1. In Scarlet Town where I was raised,
There dwelled a fair maiden;
She made each youth cry "well-a-day,"
And her name was Barbry Ellen.
2. It was in the merry month of May,
When green buds they were swellin',
Sweet William lay on the death deathbed
For the love of Barbry Ellen.
3. Sent his servant to the !own,
To the place where she were dwellin';
Cryin', "Master sent me after you
If your name be Barbry Ellen."
4. Slowly she got up;
Slowly she went !o him.
And when she pulled the curtains back,
Said: "Young man, I think you're dyin'."
5. "Yes, I'm sick, I'm very sick;
Don't you see I'm worried?
And no better will I be
Till I have the love of Barbry Ellen."
6. "Do you remember in yonders lown
In the place where you were dwellin'?
You give a toast to the ladies all around,
But you slighted Barbry Ellen."
7. "Yes, I can remember well,
Place where I were dwellin'; _
I give a toast to the ladies ail around
But my love to Barbry Ellen."
8. Then she trippled down the stairs;
He trembled in trouble.
"Hit's vain, it's vain, my dear young man,
To hope for Barbry Ellen."
9. She walked gut in the green, green field;
She beard death bells a-ringing.
And every stroke seemed to cry,
"Hardhearted Barbry Ellen."
10. She looked to the east, she looked to the west;
She seed his pale corpse a-coming:
"Buriers, buriers, put him down
That I may look upon him."
11. The more she looked, the more she grieved;
She busted out cryin':
"Buriers, buriers, take him away
For I think now that I am dyin'."
12 "Father, Father, go and dig my grave,
Dig it deep and narrow;
Sweet William died for me today,
And I'll die for him tomorrow."
13 They buried her in the old churchyard;
Sweet William's grave was nigh her.
And out of his grave grew a red, red rose,
And out of her grave grew a green brier.
14. Growed around the old church house;
They couldn't grow no higher.
And then it tied in a true lover's knot,
The red rose and the green brier.