Barbery Allen- Harmon (TN-GA) 1932 Anderson B
[From: Geneva Anderson. "A Collection of ballads and songs from East Tennessee." Master's Thesis, University of North Carolina, 1932.
Cf. Henry B, from same source. This confirms Henry's B version from Sam's daughter titled, "Barbey Allen." Both are 15 stanzas and only minor changes are found.
R. Matteson 2015]
B. "Barbery Ellen." Mrs. Sam Hamon, of Varnel, Georgia, formerly of Cade's Cove, Blount County, Tennessee. She probably learned it from her husband, Sam Harmon. This would be an old family version possibly dating back to the late 1600s in Virginia.
1. Away down South where I came from
Is where I got my learning.
I fell in love with a pretty little miss,
And her name is Barbery Ellen.
2. I courted her for seven years,
And asked her if she would marry.
With a bowed down head and a sweet little smile,
She never made no answer.
3. Early, late, along in the spring,
When the red roses were blooming,
A young man on his death bed lay
For the love of Barbery Ellen.
4. He sent his servant down to town
To a place where she was dwelling:
"My master is love-sick and sent for you,
If your name is Barbery Ellen."
5. She slightly talked and slowly walked
She slowly went unto him.
"Young man, young man, I hear you were sick,
For the love of Barbery Ellen."
6. "Yes, I am sick, and very sick
And with me death is dwelling
And none the better will I be,
Till I get Barbey Ellen."
7. "Yes, yes you are sick, and very sick,
And with you death is dwelling,
But none the better will you be
While my name is Barbery Ellen.
8. "Don't you remember the other day
When we were all drinking,
You passed the glass [to] the ladies all around,
But you slighted Barbery Ellen?"
9. "Yes, I remember the other day,
When we were all drinking:
I passed the glass to the ladies all around,
But all for Barbery Ellen."
10. He turned his pale face to the wall,
His back he turned towards them:
"Adieu, adieu, to all this world,
Be kind to Barbery Ellen."
11. She had not ridden five miles from town,
Till she heard the death bells ringing,
And every stroke, they seemed to say:
"Hard hearted Barbery Ellen."
12. She looked to the east, she looked to the west,
She saw the pale corpse coming:
"O, lay him down, O lay him down,
And let me look upon him."
13. The more she looked, the worse she got
Till she burst out crying:
"Young man, young man, you died for me today,
I will die for you tomorrow."
14. They buried Sweet Willie in one churchyard,
And Barbery in the other,
And out of Barbery's breast sprang a red, red rose,
And out of his a brier.
15. They grew and grew to such a length of height,
Till they could not grow no higher;
And there they tied in a true-lover's knot
And the rose around the brier.