Barbry Allen- Wilson (WV) 1975 Gainer
[My title, no date given. From Folk Songs from the West Virginia Hills, 1975, by Patrick Gainer. His notes follow.
As much as I want to believe this melody came from 1725, Gainer's past makes it doubly hard to give credence to his claim. His Aunt Mary would be his great-aunt. However, he may still have called her "Aunt."
R. Matteson 2015]
BARBARA ALLEN
(CHILD 84, "BONNY BARBARA ALLEN")
Of all the old-world ballads surviving in West Virginia, "Barbara Allen" is the best known. There are several different tunes for this ballad, but the following one is probably the oldest tune in existence. It was preserved, in the traditions of the Gainer family, who came from Ireland in 1725. The ballad was sung to me by Aunt Mary Wilson, my grandfather's sister.
1. In Scarlet Town where I was born.
There was a fair maid dwelling,
Made ev'ry youth cry, "Well away,"
And her name was Barbry Allen.
2 'Twas early in the month of May,
When the green buds were a-swellin',
Young Johnny Green on his death-bed lay
For the love of Barbry Allen.
3 He sent his servant to the town
Where his love was a-dwellin',
Saying, "Follow me to my master, dear,
If your name be Barbry Allen."
4 So slowly, slowly she got up,
And slowly she went nigh him,
But all she said when she got there,
"Young man, I think you're dyin'."
5 "O don't you remember the other night,
When you were at the tavern?
You drank a health to the ladies round,
But slighted Barbry Allen."
6 "O yes, I remember the other night,
When I was at the tavern,
I drank a health to the ladies round,
But gave my love to BarbrY Allen."
7 As she was walking through the town,
She heard the death bell tollin',
And ev'ry toll it seemed to say'
"Hard-hearted Barbry Allen."
8 "O Mother, O Mother, go make my bed,
Go make it soft and narrow,
Young Johnny Green died for me today,
And I'll die for him tomorrow."
9 O she was buried in the old churchyard,
And he was buried a-nigh her,
And out of her grave grew a red, red rose,
And out of his a green brier.
10 And they grew till they reached to the top of the church,
And they couldn't grow any higher;
And there they met in a true-lover's knot,
The red rose and the green brier.