Barbry Allen- Sutterfield (AR) 1958 Max Hunter E
[From the Max Hunter Collection; Cat. #0740 (MFH #38) . I've made minor corrections in spelling and punctuation.
Recorded in 1958 for Wolf Collection. This is an unusually complete version, compare with Harmon/Presnell (NC) 1969.
Mr. Sutterfield says, he was told this is the best version they have on record. He also says he is 39 years old and past, He is 78 and Mrs. Sutterfield is 75.
R. Matteson 2015]
Barbry Ellen- As sung by Barry Sutterfield, Marshall, Arkansas on May 26, 1969
Listen: http://maxhunter.missouristate.edu/songinformation.aspx?ID=0740
VERSE 1
In yonder town where I was born
There was a fair maid dwellin';
Made every youth cry well away
Her name was Barbry Ellen.
VERSE 2
Was in the merry month of May
When green buds they were swellin';
Sweet William came from the western state
And courted Barbry Ellen.
VERSE 3
Was all in the month of June
When everything was blooming
Sweet William on his death bed lay
For the love of Barbry Ellen.
VERSE 4
He sent his servant to the town
Where Barbry was a dwellin'
Saying, "My Master's sick an' sent for you
If your name be Barbry Ellen."
VERSE 5
He is sick and very sick
And death on him is dwellin';
So hasten away to comfort him
O, lovely Barbry Ellen.
VERSE 6
Slowly, slowly she got up
An' slowly she came nigh him
An' all she said, when she got there
Young man I think your dyin'.
VERSE 7
"O yes, I'm sick, an' very sick
An' death on me is dwellin'
No better, no better, I never will be
If I cain't get Barbry Ellen."
VERSE 8
"O yes, you're sick an' very sick
An' death on you is dwellin'
No better, no better, you never will be
For you cain't get Barbry Ellen."
VERSE 9
"Don't you remember in yonder town
When we were at the tavern
You drank a health, to the ladies all around
And slighted Barbry Ellen?"
VERSE 10
"O yes, I remember in yonder town
In yonder town a-drinking
I give a health to the ladies all around
But my heart to Barbry Ellen."
VERSE 11
As she was on her highway home
The birds kept a singing
They sang so clear, did seem to say
"Hard hearted Barbry Ellen."
VERSE 12
As she was walking o'er the field
She heard his death bell ringing
And every stroke did seem to say
"Hard hearted Barbry Ellen."
VERSE 13
She looked to the east and she looked to the west
She saw his corpse a-coming;
"Lay down, lay down, that corpse of clay
That I may look upon him."
VERSE 14
The more she looked, the more she mourned
Till she bursted out to crying
Saying, "Pick me up and carry me home
For I feel like I am dying."
VERSE 15
"O, Mother, O, Mother, go make my bed
Go make it long and narrow
Cause, Sweet William, died for pure, pure love
And I shall die for sorrow."
VERSE 16
"O, Father, O Father, go dig my grave
Go dig it long and narrow
Sweet William died for me today
I'll die for him tomorrow."
VERSE 17
They buried Sweet William in the old church yard
And Barbry in the new one;
A rose sprung from Sweet William's grave
And a brier from Barbry Ellen.
VERSE 18
They grew and they grew to the top of the wall
And could not grow, no higher
They lapped and tied in a true loves knot
And the rose run around the brier.