Barbry Allen- Gilbert (AR) 1969 Max Hunter F
[From the Max Hunter Collection; Cat. #0796 (MFH #38) . I've made minor corrections in spelling and punctuation.
Also recorded by Wolf Folklore.
R. Matteson 2015]
Barbry Allen - As sung by Ollie Gilbert, Mountain View, Arkansas on June 25, 1969
Listen: http://maxhunter.missouristate.edu/songinformation.aspx?ID=0796
VERSE 1
One morning, one morning early in May
When the rosebuds they were swelling;
Sweet Willie lay on his death bed grief[1]
For the love of Barbry Allen.
VERSE 2
He sent his servant after her
Where she was at a dwelling;
Saying, "my servant sent me after ya,
If your name be Barbry Allen."
VERSE 3
Slowlie, slowlie, slowlie, she rode
And slowlie went unto him
As she came near, she said to him,
"Young man, I think you dyin'."
VERSE 4
"O yes, I'm sick and very sick
And death is in me dwelling;
None the better I'll never be
If I don't get Barbry Allen."
VERSE 5
"O yes, your sick and very sick
And death is in you dwelling
None the better you'll never be
For you won't get Barbry Allen."
VERSE 6
"O, don't you remember last Friday night
When we were at a dwellin';
Your drank your wine with the ladies around
And slighted Barbry Allen."
VERSE 7
He turned his pale face to the wall
She's turned her back upon him
"Adieu, adieu, to my friends all around
And adieu to Barbry Allen."
VERSE 8
She hadn't got more than three miles up town
She heard his death bells ringing
Ever note did seem to say,
"Hard hearted Barbry Allen."
VERSE 9
She looked to the east, she looked to the west
She saw his corpse a-coming;
Th more she looked, the more she wept
She bursted out to crying.
VERSE 10
"Go open me up the corpse of clay
An' let me gaze upon them[2]
Adieu, adieu, to my friends all around
My folly has o'er done me."
VERSE 11
"O Mother, go home and fix my bed
Fix it long and narrow
Sweet Willie died for me today
And I'll die for him tomorrow."
VERSE 12
Sweet Willie, was buried in a lone church yard
Barbry buried beside him
Out of his breast grew a lily white rose
An' out of her'n a green brier.
VERSE 13
They grew and they grew to the high steeple top
Where they could not grow no higher
They leaped[3] from the top an' tied a true love knot
And the rose run around the brier.
1. grievin',
2. him
3. maybe "lapped"