Barbara Allen

from In The Old Style by Ginger Ackley

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about

“Barbara Allen” is a song with quite an itinerary, There are countless versions and the song is at least three centuries old. It's origins are somewhere in the British Isles, Scotland and England both claim it. Versions are found as far afield as Italy and Scandinavia. This was originally Number 84 in the Child Ballad Collection and 54 in Roud's collection. Her name is given in various ways from Barbara Allen to Barbara Ellen or Barbr'y Allen or even Barbriallen.It traveled across the Atlantic to the US and according to one source, there are over 98 versions of the tune in Virginia alone! In one version, William slights Barbara by toasting all the lovely girls except her, so there may be a motive for her attitude! Samuel Pepys refers to the "little Scottish tune" in his Diaries in 1666 and wrote that he was moved to tears when he heard a kitchen maid singing it.

lyrics

In Scarlet town where I was born,
there was a fair maid dwellin'
Made every youth cry well-a-day,
her name was Barb'ra Allen.

T'was in the merry month of May,
when green buds they were swellin'
Sweet William on his death-bed lay
for the love of Barb'ra Allen.

He sent his servant to the town,
to the place where she was dwellin'.
My master bids ye come to him
if your name is Barbra Allen.

So, slowly, slowly she came up,
and slowly she came nigh him,
And all she said when there she came,
"Young man, I think you're dying!"

He turned his face unto the wall
and death was drawing nigh him.
Adieu, adieu, my dear friends all.
Be kind to Bar'bra Allen!

As she was walking o'er the fields,
she heard his death bell knellin',
And ev'ry stroke did seem to say,
“Hard-hearted Barb'ra Allen!”

When he was dead and in his grave,
her heart was struck with sorrow.
"Oh mother, mother, make my bed.
I'm dying on the morrow!”

She was buried in the old church yard.
Sweet William lay beside her.
From William's heart grew a red, red rose,
from Barbra Allen's, a briar.

And they grew and grew in the old church yard,
till they could grow no higher.
In the end they formed a true lovers' knot
and the Rose grew 'round the Briar.

credits

from In The Old Style, released March 1, 2012

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Ginger Ackley Cleveland, Ohio

Starting out in Texas, Ginger made it to Ohio as quickly as she could! Her music is full of magic and stories, seasoned with a love of folk and Celtic music. Her penny whistles often accompany her, too!

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