Barbara Allen- McDowell (TN) c.1898 McDowell B
[My date, most of this collection is from the 1890s. From: Memory Melodies- A Collection of Folk-Songs from Middle Tennessee- McDowell; 1947
This is the second of three versions of Child No. 84, Barbara Allen, the most widely collected Child ballad.
R. Matteson 2015]
A. BARBARA ALLEN- McDowell, learned when she was a youth.
1. 'Twas in the merry month of May,
When the wild buds were swelling,
William Gray on his death-bed lay,
For the love of Barbara Allen.
2. He sent his servant to the town
Where she might, be a-dwelling;
"My master's sick and sent for you,
If your name be Barbara Allen."
3. Then slowly, slowly she rose up,
And slowly went unto him;
but all she said when she got there;
"Young man I think you're dying."
4. "Oh yes, I'm sick, and very sick,
My heart's blood now ls spilling;
And I shall die by tomorrow night,
If I don't get Barbara Allen."
5. Then coldly, coldly rose she up,
And coldly said unto him,
"You'll never be mingled in my life's cup
While my name's called Barbara Allen."
6. He turned his pale face to the wall
He turned his back upon her:
"Adieu, adieu to the ladies all,
But woe to Barbara Allen."
7. She had not got a mile from town,
When the death-bells she heard ringing,
And every knell, that the death-bell gave
It was "Woe to Barbara Allen."
8. She had not gone three miles from town
Till his pale corpse she saw coming,
And all the time it seemed to say,
"Hard-hearted Barbara Allen."
9. "Oh mother, mother, make my grave,
And make it, deep and narrow.
Sweet William died for me today,
I'll die for him tomorrow."
10. Sweet William died for pure true love,
And Barbara died for sorrow;
The mother died for tho love of both,
And died on Easter Monday.
11. Sweet, William was buried by the north church wall,
And Barbara by the side of him,
And out of his grave them grew a red rose,
And out of hers a brier.
12. They grew and grew to the north church wall ,
Till they could grow no higher;
They met and tied in a true lover's knot,
Tho red rose and the brier.
The above version is the one remembered by Mrs. McDowell herself, as having been learned in her youth.