Barb'ra Allen- Long (MS) pre-1923 Hudson No. 14
[From Bronson TTCB no. 109. Hudson, 1937, No. 14. Inexplicably this is not in Folksongs in Mississippi, 1936. The ballads of Mrs. Theodosia B. Long can be traced back to the 1700s through her family. This is likely an old version.
R. Matteson 2015]
"Barb'ra Allen" Sung by Mrs. Theodosia B. Long, Mississippi, between 1923 and 1930.
1. One morning early in the May,
When green buds they were swellin',
Young Jimmy on his death-bed lay,
For the love of Barb'ra Allen.
2. He sent his man unto her then,
To the place where she was dwellin',
"Come to young Jimmy's bed,"--he said,
"If your name be Barb'ra Allen"'
3. So slowly, slowly rose she up,
And slowly she drew near him,
The first reply when she got there,
"Young man- I think you're dyin'."
4. He turned his pale face unto her,
While death was o'er him stealin',
"Come pretty maid, come pity me,
I'm on my death-bed lyin'."
5. "If you be on your death-bed lyin',
Why do you call upon me?
I cannot keep you from your death,
Farewell," said Barb'ra Allcn.
6. He turned his pale face to the wall,
He turned his back upon her,
"Adieu, adieu, young ladies all,
Adieu, to Barb'ra Allen."
7. While she was walking in the field,
She heard the death bell tollin',
At every stroke it seemed to say:
'Hard-hearted Barb'ra Allen."
8 She turned her body round about,
And saw the corpse a comin',
'Lay down, lay down the corpse" she said,
*That I may look upon him."
9. While she was looking on the corpse,
Her heart it filled with sorrow,
"'My truelove died for me today,
I'll die for him tomorrow."
10. Young Jimmy was buried in the new church yard,
Young Barb'ra was buried by him,
From Jimmy's grave sprang a sweet red rose,
From Barb'ra's a thorny briar.
11 They grew to the new church steeple top,
They could not grow any higher,
They tied at the top in a true love's knot,
A sweet red rose and a briar.