Bonny Barbara Allan; or, Sir John Grehme and Barbara Allan
BONNY BARBARA ALLAN—A
[_]
a. The Tea-Table Miscellany, IV, 46, ed. 1740; here from
the London edition of 1763, p. 343. b. Percy's Reliques, III,
131, ed. 1765, “with a few conjectural emendations from a
written copy.”
1
It was in and about the Martinmas time,
When the green leaves were a falling,
That Sir John Græme, in the West Country,
Fell in love with Barbara Allan.
2
He sent his men down through the town,
To the place where she was dwelling:
‘O haste and come to my master dear,
Gin ye be Barbara Allan.’
3
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.’
4
‘O it's I'm sick, and very, very sick,
And 'tis a' for Barbara Allan:’
‘O the better for me ye's never be,
Tho your heart's blood were a spilling.
5
‘O dinna ye mind, young man,’ said she,
‘When ye was in the tavern a drinking,
That ye made the healths gae round and round,
And slighted Barbara Allan?’
6
He turnd his face unto the wall,
And death was with him dealing:
‘Adieu, adieu, my dear friends all,
And be kind to Barbara Allan.’
7
And slowly, slowly raise she up,
And slowly, slowly left him,
And sighing said, she coud not stay,
Since death of life had reft him.
8
She had not gane a mile but twa,
When she heard the dead-bell ringing,
And every jow that the dead-bell geid,
It cry'd, Woe to Barbara Allan!
9
‘O mother, mother, make my bed!
O make it saft and narrow!
Since my love died for me to-day,
I'll die for him to-morrow.’
