Cat. #0796 (MFH #38) - As sung by Ollie Gilbert, Mountain View, Arkansas on June 25, 1969
VERSE 1
One morning, one morning early in May
When th rosebuds they were swelling
Sweet Willie lay on 'is death bed grief
For th love of Barbry Allen
VERSE 2
He sent his servant after her
Where she was at a dwelling
Saying, my servant sent me after ya
If your name be Barbry Allen
VERSE 3
Slowli, slowli, slowli, she rode
An' slowli went unto him
As she came near, she said to him,
Young man, I think you die'in
VERSE 4
O yes, I'm sick an' very sick
An' death is in me dwelling
None th better I'll never be
If I don't get Barbry Allen
VERSE 5
O yes, your sick an' very sick
And death is in you dwelling
None th better you'll never be
For you won't get Barbry Allen
VERSE 6
O, don't you remember last Friday night
When we were at a dwell'in
Your drank your wine with th ladies around
An' slighted Barbry Allen
VERSE 7
He turned his pale face to th wall
She's turned her back upon him
Adieu, adieu, to my friends all around
An' adieu to Barbry Allen
VERSE 8
She had'n got more than three miles up town
She heard his death bells ringing
Ever note d' seem to say
Hard hearted Barbry Allen
VERSE 9
She looked to th east, she looked to th west
She saw his corpse a'coming
Th more she looked, th more she wept
She bursted out to crying
VERSE 10
Go ope' me up th corpse o' clay
An' let me gaze upon them
Adieu, adieu, to my friends all around
My fally has o'er done me
VERSE 11
O Mother, go home an' fix my bed
Fix it long an' narrow
Sweet Willie died for me today
An' I'll die for him tomorrow
VERSE 12
Sweet Willie, was buried in a lone church yard
Barbry buried beside him
Out of his breast grew a lily white rose
An' out of her'n a green brier
VERSE 13
They grew an' they grew to th high steeple top
Where they could not grow no higher
They leaned from th top n' tied a true love knot
And th rose run around th brier