Barbara Allan- Day (NC) c1925 Greer MS LV2
[My date, handwritten MS from the I. G. Greer Collection, Appalachian State University. Informant's name has been added in pencil. http://omeka.library.appstate.edu/items/show/19491
R. Matteson 2015]
Barbara Allan- (lyric var. 2) Ethel Day from I. G. Greer collection
1. One morning, one morning in the month of May,
When the flowery buds were swellin'
Sweet William on his death bed lay,
For the love of Barbara Allan.
He sent his servant to the town,
To tell her to come to him,
And slowly, slowly she did dress,
And slowly she went to him.
3 And all she said when she went got there
"Young man I think you're dying,
And die, O die and die you may,
You can't get Barbara Allan!"
4. "Do you remember the other day,
When you was at town a-drinking
You drank a health of the ladies there,
And slighted Barbara Allan!"
5. He turned his pale face to the wall,
His back was then toward her,
"And die, O die, and die I must
I can't get Barbara Allan."
6. She turned around and started home,
She heard the death bells ringin',
And all the tune that they did play,
'Hard hearted Barbara Allan."
7 She looked to the east, she looked to the west,
And saw the cold corpse coming,
And all the tune that they did play,
"I can't get Barbara Allan."
8 "O mother, O mother go make my bed,
Go make it soft and narrow,
Sweet William died for truly love,
And I must die tomorrow."
9. Sweet William was buried in new churchyard
Miss Barbara buried by him,
There sprang a rose from William's grave,
A brier sprang from Barbara's.
10 They grew their length, they grew their strength,
Till they could grow no higher
They grew their length, they grew their strength,
The rose twined 'round the brier.