Barbry Allen- Wilbur (MO) 1926 Randolph E
[My title. From Ozark Folksongs; Randolph, I, 1946, p. 131(E). Randolph's notes include this curious comment, "There are several commercial records of this ballad, of which those by Al Craver (Columbia 15126-D) and Vernon Dalhart (Brunswick 117) are probably the best." It should be noted that Dalhart and Craver are the same person!! Craver is one of the many pseudonyms Dalhart used to record for different companies.
Randolph who frequently uses apostrophes for "the" (th')-- doesn't use one for Barbry.
R. Matteson 2015]
E. Barbry Allen. Sung by Mrs. Marie Wilbur, Pineville, Mo., Nov. 7, 1926.
Twas in th' merry month of May,
Th' flowers was all bloomin',
Young Belfry lay on his death bed
For th' love of Barbry Allen.
He sent his servant to her house,
Where this fair maid was dwellin',
Young Belfry bids you come to him,
For he thinks that he's a-dyin'.
So slowly, slowly she got up,
An' slowly went unto him,
An' all she said when she got there
Was young man, I hope you're a-dyin'.
He turned his face to-wards the wall,
An' then to-wards her dwellin',
An' all the friends an' neighbors cried,
Hard-hearted Barbry Allen.
They placed 'em in the old church yard,
Beneath the old church tower,
An' there they planted a true lovers' vine
For all fond hearts to admire.