Uploaded December 2021 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
Barbary Allen / Barbara Ellen / Barbara Allen / Bonny Barbara Allen (Child No. 84) (1953) - Sung by Jean Ritchie of Viper, Kentucky, USA. From "Songs from Kentucky" (1953).
Liner Notes:
This Ritchie version of "the song everybody knows" is our family adaptation of the tune and text that is found in Knott Co. Kentucky where my father, Balis Ritchie was born and raised and where the first twelve of us were born. We knew at least three other tunes in the family but this was my favorite.
This is the archaic melody known in Knott County, for another Knott County version see the Wyman Brockway tune w/music copyrighted in 1916.
Song transcription:
All in the merry month of May
When the green buds they were swellin',
Young William Green on his deathbed lay
For the love of Barbry Ellen.
So slowlye, slowlye, she got up
And slowlye she came nigh him,
And all she said when she got there,
"Young man I believe your're dyin'."
"O yes I'm low and I'm very low
And I never will be any better,
Until I gain the love of one
The love of Barbry Ellen."
"O don't you remember in yonders town,
In yonders town a-drinkin'?
You drank the health of the ladies all round
And you slighted Barbry Ellen."
"O yes, I remember in yonders town,
In yonders town a-drinkin';
I gave my health to the ladies all round,
But my heart to Barbry Ellen."
He turned his pale face to the wall,
For death was on him dwellin',
"Adieu, adieu, you good neighbors all,
Be kind to Barbry Ellen."
As she was going across the field
She heard the death-bells knellin';
And every stroke they seemed to say,
Hard-hearted Barbry Ellen.
"O Mother, O Mother, go make my bed,
Go make it both long and narrow,
You William's died for me today,
And I'll die for him tomorrow."
O she was buried neath the old church-tower,
Sweet William was buried a-nigh her.
And out of his bosom grew a red, red rose,
Out of Barbry's grew a greenbriar.
They grew and they grew up the old church tower
Till they couldn't grow any higher
They locked and tied in a true-lover's knot
The red rose wrapped around the green briar.
Barbary Allen / Barbara Ellen / Barbara Allen / Bonny Barbara Allen (Child No. 84) (1953) - Sung by Jean Ritchie of Viper, Kentucky, USA. From "Songs from Kentucky" (1953).
Liner Notes:
This Ritchie version of "the song everybody knows" is our family adaptation of the tune and text that is found in Knott Co. Kentucky where my father, Balis Ritchie was born and raised and where the first twelve of us were born. We knew at least three other tunes in the family but this was my favorite.
This is the archaic melody known in Knott County, for another Knott County version see the Wyman Brockway tune w/music copyrighted in 1916.
Song transcription:
All in the merry month of May
When the green buds they were swellin',
Young William Green on his deathbed lay
For the love of Barbry Ellen.
So slowlye, slowlye, she got up
And slowlye she came nigh him,
And all she said when she got there,
"Young man I believe your're dyin'."
"O yes I'm low and I'm very low
And I never will be any better,
Until I gain the love of one
The love of Barbry Ellen."
"O don't you remember in yonders town,
In yonders town a-drinkin'?
You drank the health of the ladies all round
And you slighted Barbry Ellen."
"O yes, I remember in yonders town,
In yonders town a-drinkin';
I gave my health to the ladies all round,
But my heart to Barbry Ellen."
He turned his pale face to the wall,
For death was on him dwellin',
"Adieu, adieu, you good neighbors all,
Be kind to Barbry Ellen."
As she was going across the field
She heard the death-bells knellin';
And every stroke they seemed to say,
Hard-hearted Barbry Ellen.
"O Mother, O Mother, go make my bed,
Go make it both long and narrow,
You William's died for me today,
And I'll die for him tomorrow."
O she was buried neath the old church-tower,
Sweet William was buried a-nigh her.
And out of his bosom grew a red, red rose,
Out of Barbry's grew a greenbriar.
They grew and they grew up the old church tower
Till they couldn't grow any higher
They locked and tied in a true-lover's knot
The red rose wrapped around the green briar.
