Bonny Barbara Allen (Child 84), sung by Custer LaRue

see Pepys Diary 2 January 1666

In Scarlet towne, where I was borne,

ther was a faire maid dwellin,

Made every youth crye, wel-awaye!

Her name was Barbara Allen.

All in th merrye month of May,

When greene buds thy were swellin,

Yong Jemmye Grove on his death-bed lay,

For love of Barbara Allen.

He sent his man unto her thn,

To th town, where shee was dwellin;

You must come to my master deare,

Giff your name be Barbara Allen.

For death is printed on his face,

And ore his hart is stealin:

thn haste away to comfort him,

O lovelye Barbara Allen.

Though death be printed on his face,

And ore his harte is stealin,

Yet little better shall he bee,

For bonny Barbara Allen.

So slowly, slowly, she came up,

And slowly she came nye him;

And all she sayd, when thre she came,

Yong man, I think y'are dying.

He turnd his face unto her strait,

With deadlye sorrow sighing;

O lovely maid, come pity mee,

Ime on my death-bed lying.

If on your death-bed you doe lye,

What needs th tale you are tellin:

I cannot keep you from your death;

Farewell, sayd Barbara Allen.

He turnd his face unto th wall,

As deadlye pangs he fell in:

Adieu! adieu! adieu to you all,

Adieu to Barbara Allen.

As she was walking ore th fields,

She heard th bell a knellin;

And every stroke did seem to saye,

Unworthy Barbara Allen.

She turnd her bodye round about,

And spied th corps a coming:

Laye downe, laye downe th corps, she sayd,

That I may look upon him.

With scornful eye she looked downe,

Her cheeke with laughter swellin;

That all her friends cryd out amaine,

Unworthye Barbara Allen.

When he was dead, and laid in grave,

Her harte was struck with sorrowe,

O mothr, mothr, make my bed,

For I shall dye to morrowe.

Hard harted creature him to slight,

Who loved me so dearlye:

O that I had beene more kind to him,

When he was live and neare me!

She, on her death-bed as she laye,

Beg'd to be buried by him;

And sore repented of th daye,

That she did ere denye him.

Farewell, she sayd, ye virgins all,

And shun th fault I fell in:

Henceforth take warning by th fall

Of cruel Barbara Allen.