Barbry Allen- Oxford (AR) 1941 Randolph O
[Fragment from Ozark Folksongs; Randolph, I, 1946, p. 131(E). Randolph's notes include this curious comment, "There are several commercial records of this ballad, of which those by Al Craver (Columbia 15126-D) and Vernon Dalhart (Brunswick 117) are probably the best." It should be noted that Dalhart and Craver are the same person!! Craver is one of the many pseudonyms Dalhart used to record for different companies.
Randolph who frequently uses apostrophes for "the" (th')-- doesn't use one for Barbry.
R. Matteson 2015]
O. Barbry Allen. A fragment from "Barbry Allen" as sung by Mrs. Ray Oxford, Fayetteville, Ark., Dec. 13, 1941.
'Twas early in the month of May
When all things they were swellin',
Sweet William came from the Western States
And courted Barbry Allen.
'Twas early in the month of June
When all things they were bloomin',
Sweet William on his deathbed lay
For the love of Barbry Allen.