Barbara Allen's Cruelty- Long (MD) 1947 Matteson from American Folk-Songs for Young Singers
[This is the second of two versions of Barbara Allen that my grandfather, Maurice Matteson collected and published. This one was from Baltimore, Maryland and was included in American Folk-Songs for Young Singers p. 68-69, his short 1948 book. He was the director of the Frostburg Glee Club during that period of time.
R. Matteson 2012]
Barbara Allen's Cruelty- Katherine Long (MD) 1947 Collected by Maurice Matteson from American Folk-Songs for Young Singers p. 68-69
In Scarlet town where I was born
There was a fair maid dwellin',
Made all the lads cry, "Well-away!"
Her name was Barbara Allen.
All in the merry month of May
When green buds they were swellin',
Young jemmy Grove on his death-bed lay
For love of Barbara Allen.
He sent his man into her then,
To the town where she was dwellin,
"Oh haste ye come to my master dear,
If your name be Barbara Allen."
So slowly, slowly, raise she up
And slowly she drew nigh him,
And this was all she had to say,
"Young man I think your're dyin'."
"Oh, it's I am sick and very, very sick,
And it's all for Barbara Allen."
"The better for me ye s'all never be,
Though your heart's-blood be a-spillin'."
"Now dinna ye mind, young man," says she,
"When the red wine ye were a fillin',"
How you made the the healths go round and round
And slighted Barbara Allen?"
He turned his face unto the wall,
For death was with him dealin',
Adieu, Adieu, my dear friends all,
Be kind to Barbara Allen.
As she was walking o're the lea,
She heard the death-bell knellin;
And every jow the death-bell gave,
Cried, "Woe!" to Barbara Allen.
O Mother, O Mother, go make my bed,
Go make it soft and narrow,
My love has died for me today,
I'll die for him tomorrow.
Farewell, farewell ye virgins all,
And shun the fault I fell in;
Henceforward take warning from the fall
Of cruel Barbara Allen.