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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

Barbara Allen
Language: English 
It was in and about the Martinmas time, 
When the green leaves were a falling, 
That Sir John Graham in the west country
Fell in love with Barbara Allen.

He sent his man down through the town, 
To the place where she was dwelling:
O haste and cum to my master dear, 
Gin ye be Barbara Allen.

O hooly, hooly rose she up, 
To the place where he was lying,
And when she drew the curtain by, 
Young man, I think you're dying.

He turn'd his face unto the wa', 
And death was wi' him dealing:
Adieu, adieu, my dear friends a', 
And be kind to Barbara Allen,

And slowly, slowly raise she up, 
And slowly, slowly left him;
And sighing, said, she cou'd not stay, 
Since death of life had reft him.

O mither, mither, mak my bed, 
O mak it saft and narrow,
Since my love died for me to-day, 
I'll die for him to-morrow.

GLOSSARY
Gin = if
Hooly = slowly, cautiously

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

  • by (Franz) Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809), "Barbara Allen", JHW. XXXII/1 no. 11, Hob. XXXIa no. 11. [
     text verified 1 time
    ]

Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani

This text was added to the website: 2012-08-14
Line count: 24
Word count: 157

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