Barbara Allen (2) Child 84
[This is the second version of Barbara Allen. It has the rose/briar twinning last verse.
R. Matteson 2014]
BARBARA ALLEN (2)
All in the merry month of May
When wild buds were swelling,
William Gray on his deathbed lay
For the love of Barbara Allen.
He sent his servant to the town,
Where she might be dwelling,
"My master is sick, he sent for you,
If your name be Barbara Allen."
Slowly, slowly she arose,
And slowly she drew nigh him,
And all she said, when she got there,
"Young man I think you're dying."
"Oh yes, I'm sick and very sick
It's all in my dwelling,
I shall never see my time again,
If I don't get Barbara Allen.
"But don't you remember the other day,
When we were at the tavern,
You drank a health to the ladies all,
But slighted Barbara Allen?"
He turned his pale face to the wall,
And quickly commenced crying,
"Adieu, adieu to the ladies all,
Be kind to Barbara Allen."
It was late that evening, she was going home,
She heard a death bell ringing
It rang so loud and it spoke so plain,
"You cruel Barbara Allen."
She looked to the East, she looked to the West,
She spied his corpse a-coming.
"Oh bring him here, and lay his down,
That I may gaze upon him."
"Curse be my life," she said
"And cursed be my beauty,
I would have saved this young man's life,
Had I but done my duty."
"Oh Mother, Mother, make my bed,
Make it soft and narrow
Sweet William died for the love of me,
I'll die for him for sorrow."
William died on a Saturday night,
And Barbara died on Sunday,
Her mother died for the love of both,
She died on Easter Monday.
Barbara was buried in a new churchyard,
And Willie was buried right by her,
Out of his grave sprang a red rose bush,
And out of hers, a briar.
They grew as high as the old church tower
And they could grow no higher.
They grew and tied in true love knots,
The rose ran around the brier.