Bluegrass Messengers

Barbara Allen- Riddle (AR) 1965 Max Hunter C

[From the Max Hunter Collection; Cat. #0586 (MFH #38). I've made minor corrections in spelling and punctuation.

Riddle is a well-known ballad singer and this ballad is mysteriously not mentioned in her 1971 book, A Singer and her Songs. She sings, "Barbara" with three syllables.

R. Matteson 2015]

Barbara Allen - As sung by Almeda Riddle, Heber Springs, Arkansas on October 23, 1965
Listen: http://maxhunter.missouristate.edu/songinformation.aspx?ID=0586

VERSE 1: Down in Scarlet town where I was born
There was this fair maid a-dwellin';
And all the youths cried "Well away,"
Her name was Barbra Allen.

VERSE 2: T'was all in the merry month of May
Green buds all a swellin';
When young Sir James, on a death bed lay
With love for Barbra Allen

VERSE 3: He sent his man unto her then
To his town were she was a-dwellin';
Said, my Master's sick an' he sent for you
If your name is Barbra Allen."

VERSE 4: So slowly, slowly, rose she up,
So slowly she came a-nigh him
When she got there all she said,
"Was young man I think you're dying."

VERSE 5: He turned his pale face to her full
Death was on it a-dwellin'
"O, pity me my pretty maid
I'm on my death bed lying."

VERSE 6: If on your death bed, you be Sir
Then death be in you a-dwellin';
Better I'm sure you never will be
For you can't have Barbara Allen.

VERSE 7: "Do you remember in yonder town
O, the wine was freely a-flowin';
You toasted fair maids all around
But you slighted Barbara Allen?"

VERSE 8: "I do remember in yonder town
When the wine was freely a-flowin';
When I toasted ladies all around
But I still loved Barbara Allen."

VERSE 9
Then he turned his pale face to the wall
Death was with him now dealin',
"Adieu, adieu my kind friends all
Adieu, O Barbara Allen."

VERSE 10: While she was walkin' across the field
She spied the hearse a-coming
"Let down, let down, she cried to them,
That I may look upon 'im."

VERSE 11
She looked upon the pale dead face
Then her cheeks with laughter a-swellin';
Till even her friends, cried, "O, away
'Tis unworthy Barbra Allen."

VERSE 12: But on her death bed, when she lay
She asked to be buried a-nigh him
Thus regretted, that in her lie
She ever had denied him.

VERSE 13: Sir James he died, on a Saturday night
An' Barbara died on Sunday
And the Mother died with grief for both
She died on Easter Monday.