Barbara Allen- Burleson (NC) 1940 Abrams Collection
[From a 2 page typed MS in the Abrams Collection, Barbara Allen as sung by Roxie, Ruby and Dixie Burelson, September 26, 1940.
William Amos “Doc” Abrams (1905-1991), originally from Pinetops in Edgecombe County, North Carolina, was chairman of the English Department at Appalachian State Teacher’s College (ASTC) from 1932 to 1946. The W. Amos Abrams Folksong Collection, presented online as part of the Documenting Appalachia digital initiative, consists of approximately 1,100 document pages that comprise some 400 individual song titles, most of which have multiple variants.
R. Matteson 2015]
Barbara Allen- sung by Roxie, Ruby and Dixie Burelson; 1940
In yonder town where I was born,
There was a young maid dwelling.
Made every youth to wail[1] and woe,
Her name was Barbara Allen.
All in the merry month of May,
When green buds they were swelling.
sweet William came from the Western states,
And courted Barbara Allen.
Early in the moth of June,
When flowers were a-blooming
Sweet William on his death bed lay,
For the love of Barbara Allen.
He sent his servants to the town,
Where Barbara was a-dwelling,
Says, "My master's sick and sends for you,
If your name be Barbara Allen."
Slowly Slowly she got up,
and slowly she went to him
All she said when she got there,
"Young man I think you're dying."
"Oh yes, I'm sick and very sick,
And death is with me dealing,
No better you ever will be,
Cause you can't have Barbara Allen.
[text upcoming]