Barbara Allen- Pennington (MS) 1936 Hudson E
[From Arthur Palmer Hudson's Folksongs of Mississippi, 1936. Hudson's notes follow. This is very close to Child A, even though it was sung by Mrs. Pennington, it's authenticity as far as coming from a traditional descent is questionable.
R. Matteson 2015]
BONNY BARBARA ALLEN
(Child, No. 84)
As is the case in other Southern states the balladry of which has been extensively gleaned, so in Mississippi this is the best known of the traditional English and Scottish ballads. The Mississippi collection made under my direction contains sixteen texts, and the number might easily have been doubled. All these are fairly complete; each has some distinctive feature or features.
Since the number of texts is so large, it is deemed permissible to omit from some of them stanzas practically identical with those given in full length texts and to reproduce only those stanzas of some texts that have interesting or significant variant details.
For other American variants, see Brown, p. 91 Campbell and Sharp, No. 21; Cox, No. 16; Davis, No. 24; Perrow, "Songs and Rhymes from the South, Journal, XXVIII, 144-46 (two texts from Mississippi recovered over twenty years ago); Pound, No. 31 Scarborough, p. 59; Wyman and Brockway, p. 1; Newell, No. 19, who notes that the ballad was once used as a game at evening parties in New England; and Reed Smith, No. 8. Add Mackenzie, p. 100; Barry, No. 19.
Barbara Allen- Sung by Mrs. L. D. Pennington communicated by Mr. T. A. Bickerstaff, contributor of version A.
1 It was about the Martimas time
When green leaves were a-falling
Sir John Graham of the West Country
Fell in love with Barbara Allen.
2 He sent his man down through the town,
To the place where she was dwelling.
"O haste and go to my master dear,
Gin ye be Barbra Allen."
3 Then holy half raise she up
To the place where he was lying,
And when she raised the curtains by,
"Young man, I think you're dying."
4 "Oh, it's I'm sick, I'm very, very sick,
And it's for Barbra Allen.
It's better for me ye never be,
Though my heart's blood were a-spilling."
5 "Oh, dinna ye, young man," said she,
"'When you was in the tavern drinking
And you made the healths gae round and round
But slighted Barbra Allen?"
6 He turned his face unto the wall,
For death was with him dealing.
"Adieu, adieu, dear friends, and all,
And be kind to Barbra Allen."
7 Then slowly, slowly raise she up
And slowly, slowly left him,
And sighing, said, she could not stay
Since death of life had reft him.
8 She had not gone a mile but twa
Till she heard the dead bells ringing,
And every word that the dead bells said,
Cried, "Woe to Barbra Allen."
9 "O Mother, Mother go make my bed,
Make it both soft and narrow;
Since my lover died for me today,
I'll die for him tomorrow."