Cat. #0586 (MFH #38) - As sung by Almeda Riddle, Heber Springs, Arkansas on October 23, 1965
VERSE 1
Down in Scarlet town where I was born
There was this fair maid a dwell'in
And all th youths cried well away
Her name was Barbra Allen
VERSE 2
T'was all in th merry month of May
Green buds all a swell'in
When young Sir James, on a death bed lay
With love for Barbra Allen
VERSE 3
He sent his man unto her then
To his town were she was'a dwell'in
Said, my Master's sick an' he sent for you
If your name is Barbra Allen
VERSE 4
So slowly, slowly, rose she up
So slowly she came a nigh him
When she got there all she said,
W's young man I think you dying
VERSE 5
He turned his pale face to 'er full
Death was on it a dwell'in'
O, pity me my pretty maid
I'm on my death bed lying
VERSE 6
If on your death bed, you be Sir
Then death be in you a dwellin'
Better I'm sure you never will be
For you can't have Barbra Allen
VERSE 7
Do you remember in yonder town
O, th wine was freely a flow'in
You toasted fair maids all around
But ya slighted Barbra Allen
VERSE 8
I do remember in yonder town
When th wine was freely a flow'in
When I toasted ladies all around
But I still loved Barbra Allen
VERSE 9
Then he turned his pale face to th wall
Death was with 'im now deal'in
Adieu, adieu my kind friends all
Adieu, O Barbra Allen
VERSE 10
While she was walk'in across th field
She spied the hearse a coming
Let down, let down, she cried to them,
That I may look upon 'im
VERSE 11
She looked upon th pale dead face
Then her cheeks with laughter a swell'in
Til even her friends, cried, O, away
T'is unworthy Barbra Allen
VERSE 12
But on her death bed, when she lay
She asked to be buried a nigh him
Thus regretted, that in her lie
She ever had denied him
VERSE 13
Sir James he died, on a Saturday night
An' Barbra died on Sunday
And th Mother died with grief for both
She died on Easter Monday