Barbary Ellen- Caldwell (KY) 1930 Jean Thomas
[From: The Singing Gathering by Jean Thomas, 1939. Her notes follow.
R. Matteson 2015]
"Barbary Ellen " is one of the most popular of all the ballads brought from England to America. It was well known during the time of Goldsmith and Pepys. The melody and verses are found in numberless variations and in many collections.
Barbary Ellen -As sung by Walter Caldwell; June 1930.
1. In Scarlet Town where I was born,
There was a fair maid dwelling,
Made every youth cry, "well-a-day,"
Her name was Barbary Ellen.
2. 'Twas early in the month of May,
When the green buds they were swelling;
Sweet William came from a western state
And courted Barbary Ellen.
3. It was all in the month of June,
When the green buds they were blooming;
Sweet William on his death bed lay,
For the love of Barbary Ellen.
4. He sent his servant to the town,
Where Barbary was a-dwelling;
My master is sick and sent for you,
If your name is Barbary Ellen.
5. And death is painted on his face
And o'er his heart is stealing;
Then hasten away and comfort him,
Oh lovely Barbary Ellen.
6. So slowly, slowly she got up,
And slowly she came nigh him;
And all she said when she got there,
Young man I think you're a-dying.
7. Oh yes, I'm sick and very sick,
And death is on me dwelling;
No better, no better I never can be,
If I can't get Barbary Ellen.
8. Oh yes, you're sick and very sick,
And death on you is dwelling;
No better, no better, you never can be,
For you can't have Barbary Ellen.
9. Do you remember in yonders town,
When we were at the tavern,
You drank a health to the ladies all around,
And slighted Barbary Ellen?
10. Oh yes, I remember in yonders [own,
When we were there a-drinking,
I gave a health to the ladies all around,
And my heart to Barbary Ellen.
11. As she was on her high way home,
His death bells she heard ringing;
They rang so clear they seemed to say
Hard-hearted Barbary Ellen.
12. As she was going crost the fields,
She spied his corpse a-coming;
Lay down, lay down yon corpse of clay
That I may gaze upon him.
13. The more she looked, the more she moaned,
Till she fell to the ground a-crying,
Saying, Pick me up and carry me home,
For I am now a-dying.
14. Oh mother, oh mother, go make my bed,
And make it long and narrow,
Sweet William died for pure, pure love,
And I shall die of sorrow.
15. Oh father, oh father, go dig my grave,
Go dig it long and narrow.
Sweet William died for me today,
I'll die for him tomorrow.
16. They buried her in the old churchyard,
And he was buried a-nigh her,
On William's grave there grew up a rose,
On Barbary's grew a briar.
17. They grew to the top of the old church wall,
Till they could not grow any higher;
They wrapped and tied in a true lover's knot,
And the rose grew around the briar.