One of my very favourite old traditional sweet sad love songs
which I first heard many years ago.
With love for my friends, Willemina

A diary entry by Samuel Pepys on January 2, 1666 contains the earliest extant reference to the song. In it, he recalls the fun and games at a New Years party:
"...but above all, my dear Mrs Knipp with whom I sang; and in perfect pleasure I was to hear her sing, and especially her little Scotch song of Barbary Allen."

There are many versions of the tragic love ballad "Barbara Allen."
The one presented below here is one of the oldest and so it may
be as near to the original Scottish story as any that can be found.

Lyrics below of the traditional ballad, "Barbara Allen."

In Scarlet Town, Where I was born
There was a fair maid dwellin'
Made every youth cry "Well-a-day"
For the love of Barbara Allen

'Twas in the merry month of May
When green buds were a swellin'
Sweet William came from the west country
And fell in love with Barbara Allen.

He courted her for seven long years
'Til his heart in him was failin'
And begged his love to marry him
But "No" said Barbara Allen.

Then on a somber autumn day
When all the leaves were fallin'
Sweet William on his deathbed lay
For the love of Barbara Allen.

He sent his servant to the town,
To the place where she was dwellin',
Sayin' "You must come to my master dear,
If your name be Barbara Allen."

"For death is printed on his face,
And o'er his heart is stealin'
Then haste away to comfort him
Oh lovely Barbara Allen."

So slowly, slowly she came up
And slowly she drew nigh him
And the only words to him did say
Were "Young man I think you're dyin'"

"Oh yes, I'm sick and very low
And death is o'er me dwellin',
But better, no better, I ever shall be
If I can't have Barbara Allen."

"You may be sick and very low,
And death be o'er you dwellin,
But better, no better you ever will be
For you can't have Barbara Allen...

Don't you remember in yonder town,
In yonder town a-drinking?
You gave a toast to the ladies round,
But you slighted Barbara Allen."

"Oh yes, I remember in yonder town
When we were in the tavern,
I gave a toast to the ladies 'round,
But gave my heart to Barbara Allen."

"If on your deathbed you do lie,
What needs the tale you're tellin'?
I cannot save you from your death.
Farewell," said Barbara Allen.

He turned his pale face to the wall,
As death was drawing nigh him.
"Adieu, adieu, to my friends all.
Be kind to Barbara Allen."

As she went walking through the fields,
She heard the birds a-singin',
And as they sang, they seemed to say:
"Hard-hearted Barbara Allen!"

As she walked further through the fields
She heard the death-bells ringing,
And every note to her did say:
"Hard-hearted Barbara Allen!"

Her eyes looked east, her eyes looked west
She spied the corpse a-comin
"Lay down, lay down the corpse!" she said,
"That I may look upon him."

And as she looked upon his face,
She bursted out a-crying,
"Oh pick me up, and take me home,
For now I am a-dyin'."

"Oh mother, Oh mother, go make my bed,
Make it both long and narrow
Sweet William died for me today
And I shall die tomorrow."

"Oh father, oh father, go dig my grave
Dig it both long and narrow,
Sweet William died of love for me
And I shall die of sorrow."

"Hard-hearted creature, him to slight,
Who hath loved me so dearly -
Oh, that I'd been more kind to him
When he was live and near me.

She on her deathbed as she lay
Begged to be buried by him
And sore repented of the day
That she did e'er deny him.

Barbara Allen was buried in the old churchyard
And William they buried nigh her
Out of William's heart, there grew a rose
Out of Barbara Allen's, a briar.

They grew and grew up the old church wall
'Til they could grow no higher,
And there they formed a true love's knot -
The rose wrapp'd round the briar.

свернуть