Barbara Allen- Thomas (NS) 1931 Fauset B
[From: Folklore from Nova Scotia; 1931; collected by Arthur Huff Fauset, 1899-1983.
Fauset has recorded by E.C.P. Informant 60; and this for the informant:
60. Kathleen Thomas. White. Aged 19. Born at Blanche, 21 miles from Shelburne. Resident of Shelburne.
It seems clear to me these both these versions were taken from print (or at best, taken from someone who learned them from print) as supplied from the informant. Version B (below) is the 1740 "Bonny Barbara Allen," which is Percy's Scotch version, Child A, with minor alterations and the added rose-briar stanzas (see footnotes).
R. Matteson 2015]
Barbara Allen "Variant."
It was in and about the Martmas[1] time,
When the green leaves were a-falling,
That Sir John Graham in the west countree.
Fell in love with Barbara Allen.
He sent his men down through the town,
To the place where she was dwelling,
"Oh, haste and come to my master dear,
If your name be Barbara Allen."
Oh, slowly, slowly rose she up,
To the place where he was lying,
And when she drew the curtain by,
"Young man I think you're dying."
"It's Oh, I'm sick, I'm very sick,
And it's all for Barbara Allen."
"Oh, the better for me, ye'll never be,
Though your heart's blood were a-spilling."
"0, dinna ye mind young man," she said,
"When ye were in the tavern a drinking,
That you treated all the other girls
And slighted Barbara Allen."
He turned his face upon the wall,
And death was with him dealing,
"Adieu, adieu, my dear friends all,
And be kind to Barbara Allen."
And slowly, slowly rose she up
And slowly, slowly left him,
And sighing said she could not stay,
Since deyth of life had left him.
She hadna gone a mile or two,
When she heard the death bells ringing,
And every jow the death bells gave,
It cried "Wae to Barbara Allen."
"0, Mother, Mother make my bed,
And make it safe and narrow,
Since my love died for me today,
I'll die for him tomorrow."
And from his grave there grew a rose,[2]
And from hers there grew a briar,
They grew and grew to the churchyard steeple
And then they could grow no higher.
So they twined themselves in a true lovers' knot,
The rose around the briar.
1. Martinmas (Nov. 11)
2. the rose-briar ending is not found in the Child A, hence an argument for it being traditional bears weight.