Barbry Allen- Henry (AR) 1951 Parler W
[From Ozark Collection (No. 28); Collected by Irene Carlisle Reel 115 Item 4. There are several corrupt stanzas and no recording (or the wrong recording!).
R. Matteson 2015]
BARB'RY ALLEN - Sung by Mrs. Rachel Henry of Spring Valley, Arkansas May 8, 1951
'Twas all in the merry month of May,
When the flowers first were budding,
When William Gray from the North country came
For the love of Barb'ry Allen.
'Twas all in the merry month of May,
When the flowers first were blooming,
When William Gray on his death-bed lay
For the love of Barb'ry Allen,
He sent his servant down to town,
Down to where Barbry's all were dwelling;
"Oh, Barbry, Barbry, Willie's sick, and very sick,
And 's on his death-bed lying,
And none of the better will he ever be,
if he cannot get Barbrie Allen."
So slowlie she rose,
And slowlie she drew near him;
First words she said when she got there:
"Young man, I think you're a-dying."
"Oh, Barbry, Barbry, I'm sick, and very sick,
And 's on my death-bed lying;
And none of the better will I ever be,
If I cannot get Barbry Allen."
"Young man, young man, you're sick, and very sick,
And 's on your death-bed lying;
And none of the better will you ever be,
for you cannot get Barbry Allen.
"Do you remember the other day,
When you was at yore tavring[1] drinking,
You treated all of the ladies around,
And slighted Barbry Allen."
"Yes, I remember the other day,
When I was at my tavring[1] drinking;
I treated all of the ladies 'round,
And give my heart to Barbry Allen."
He turned his face to the backside wall,
His back to Barbry Allen;
"Adieu, adieu, adieu to all;
Adieu to Barbrie Allen."
She walked on to the town,
To her own dwelling;
She set down, and she was mourning;
Hardhearted Barbry Allen!
. . . .
She heared his death-bells ringing;
Every knock, they seemed to say,
"Hardhearted Barbry Allen!"
She went to the door; she looked east and she looked west
She saw his cold corpse coming;
"Oh, bring him here and lie him down,
And let me look upon him!"
The more she looked, the more she mourned;
At last she broke down crying;
Saying, "Hardhearted Barbrie Alien!"
"Oh, Mother, oh, Mother, go make my bed;
Go make it long and narrow;
Sweet Willie's died for me today;
I'll die for him tomorrow."
Willie died for pure heart love;
Barbry died for sorrow;
They buried Willie in the new churchyard,
And Barbry by his side;
From Willie' s grave sprang a milk-white rose;
From Barbry's sprang a briar.
They grew and they grew to the new church-top,
Where they could not grow no higher;
The rose he turned and wrapped around the briar,
And tied in a true-lover's knot,
When they could not grow no higher.