Barb'ra Ellen- Johnson (NC) 1916 Sharp D
[From: English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians I, 1917 and 1932.
R. Matteson 2012]
Sharp diary 1916 page 277. Thursday 14 September 1916 - Hot Springs
On the ferry en route to Silver Mining Creek the ferryman told us his wife Mrs Roberts sang, so we called on her. She promised to stud up ready for us tomorrow morning. Then we went to a Mrs Hester House where we got quite a lot of good songs including Earl Brand etc. Then to Mrs Ellie Johnson. Directly after lunch we tackled Mrs Gentry and came home richly laden. So we made up for our blank day yesterday. Sat up late writing up books. Emma Hensley came to dinner with us at the hotel and behaved very nicely indeed. She is very homesick poor girl, but we bucked her up a bit I think.
Barb'ra Ellen- Johnson (NC) 1916 Sharp D.
1 Sweet William was down to his dwell today
He's down to his dwell a-drinking.
He's passed his wine to ladies all,
He slighted Barb'ra Ellen.
2 There stands three young ladies so fair,
They're dressed in every colour.
There's not but one that I call my own
And that is Barbara Ellen.
3 It wasn't very long before William taken sick,
Death was all he dreaded.
Sent his love for Barbara to come,
She come, she come a-running.
4 And all she said when she got there:
Young man, I think you're dying.
O yes, I'm sick, I'm very sick
And never be no better.
5 It wasn't very long till Barbara started home,
She heard the corpse bells ringing.
She looked East, she looked West
And saw the pale corpse coming.
6 Unfold, unfold those lily-white sheets
And let me look upon him.
Sweet William died for me to-day,
I'll die for him tomorrow.
7 Sweet William died on Saturday night,
And Barbara on Sunday.
The old woman died for the love of both,
She died on Easter Monday.
8 On William's grave a turtle dove,
On Barbara's grave a sparrow.
The turtle dove is the sign of love,
The sparrow was for sorrow.