Barbra Allen- Haslett (MO) 1958 Max Hunter A
[From the Max Hunter Collection; Cat. #0148 (MFH #38). I've made minor corrections in spelling and punctuation.
R. Matteson 2015]
Barbra Allen - As sung by Mrs. Sam "Iva" Haslett, West Plains, Missouri on July 31, 1958
Listen: http://maxhunter.missouristate.edu/songinformation.aspx?ID=0148
VERSE 1: In Scarlet town, where I was born
There was a fair maid dwelling
Made every youth cry, "Well away,"
An' her name was Barbra Allen.
VERSE 2: All in the merry month of May,
When the green buds were swelling;
Sweet William came from the western states
And courted Barbra Allen.
VERSE 3: It was all in the month of June
When all things they were blooming
Sweet William on his death bed lay
For the love of Barbra Allen.
VERSE 4: He sent his servants to the town
Where Barbra was a dwelling,
"My master is sick and sends for you
If your name be Barbra Allen."
VERSE 5: "And death is painted on his face
And o'er his heart is stealing
Then hasten away to comfort him
Oh, lovely Barbra Allen."
VERSE 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 your dying."
VERSE 7: "O yes, I'm sick an' very sick
And death is on me dwelling
No better, no better, I never can be
If I can't have Barbra Allen."
VERSE 8: "O yes, your sick and very sick,
And death is on you dwelling;
No better, no better, you never will be,
For you can't have Barbra Allen."
VERSE 9: "O, don't you remember in yonder town
When you were at the tavern;
You drank a health to the ladies all around,
An' slighted Barbra Allen."
VERSE 10: As she was on her highway home
The birds they kept a singing
They sing'd so clear they seemed to say
"Hard hearted Barbra Allen."
VERSE 11: As she was walking o'er the fields
She heard the death bell knelling;
And ever stroke did seem to say,
"Hard hearted Barbra Allen."
VERSE 12
She looked to the east, she looked to the west
She spied his corpse a-coming
"Lay down, lay down, that corpse of clay,
That I may look upon him."
VERSE 13: The more she looked, the more she mourned
Till she fell to the ground a-crying
Saying, "Take me up an' carry me home
For I am now, a-dying."
VERSE 14: "O mother, O mother, go make my bed
Go make it long an' narrow
Sweet William died for pure, pure love
And I shall die for sorrow."
VERSE 15: "O father, O father, go dig my grave
Go dig it long and narrow
Sweet William died for me today
I'll die for him tomorrow."
VERSE 16: She was buried in the old churchyard
And he was buried, a-nigh her
On William's grave, there grew a red rose
On Barbra's grew a green brier.