Barbra Allen

Cat. #0148 (MFH #38) - As sung by Mrs. Sam "Iva" Haslett, West Plains, Missouri on July 31, 1958

VERSE 1
In scarlet town, where I was born
There was a fair maid dwelling
Made every youth cry well away
An' her name was Barbra Allen

VERSE 2
All in th merry month of May
When th green buds were swelling
Sweet William came from th western states
And courted Barbra Allen

VERSE 3
It was all in th month of June
When all things they were blooming
Sweet William on his death bed lay
For th love of Barbra Allen

VERSE 4
He sent his servant to th town
Where Barbra was a dwelling,
My master is sick and sends for you
If your name be Barbra Allen

VERSE 5
And death is painted on his face
And o'er his heart is stealing
Then hasten away to comfort him
A, lovely Barbra Allen

VERSE 6
So slowly, slowly, she got up
And slowly she came nigh him
And all she said when she got there,
Young man, I think your dying

VERSE 7
O yes, I'm sick an' very sick
And death is on me dwelling
No better, no better, I never can be
If I can't have Barbra Allen

VERSE 8
O yes, your sick and very sick
And death is on you dwelling
No better, no better, you never will be
For you can't have Barbra Allen

VERSE 9
O, don't you remember in yonder town
When you were at th tavern
You drank a health to th ladies all around
An' slighted Barbra Allen

VERSE 10
As she was on her highway home
Th birds they kept a singing
They sing'd so clear they seemed to say
Hard hearted Barbra Allen

VERSE 11
As she was walking o'er th fields
She heard the death bell knelling
And ever stroke did seem to say,
Hard hearted Barbra Allen

VERSE 12
She looked to th east, she looked to th west
She spied his corpse a'coming
Lay down, lay down, that corpse of clay
That I may look upon him

VERSE 13
The more she looked, th more she mourned
Till she fell to th ground a'crying
Saying, take me up an' carry me home
For I am now, a dying

VERSE 14
O mother, o mother, go make my bed
Go make it long an' narrow
Sweet William died for pure, pure love
And I shall die for sorrow

VERSE 15
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 16
She was buried in the old churchyard
And he was buried, anigh her
On William's grave, there grew a red rose
On Barbra's grew a green brier

Variants