Hello one and all!
Going by the names Barb'ra Allyn, Barbara Ellen, Barbara Allen and Barbara Hellen; this Scottish folk song from the 17th century CE would become one of the most popular English-language ballads. It would grow in renown in the British Isles and then the song would go on to touch down on North American shores, brought by the settlers from Great Britain and Ireland. We'll look at what made this song stand from the countless other that vied for the ears of listeners.
Ballad of Barbara Allen
Samuel Pepys was the first to make mention of Barbara Allen being sung, at a New Year's Eve party in 1665. The esteemed English diarist describes how Elizabeth Knepp, a British actress and singer, sang her little Scotch song of Barbary Allen. In 1690 a broadside (printed sheets of paper, usually adorned with poems and songs) was published in London, which indicates that that the song had entered the cultural bloodstream by then. The song reached North America in the 19th century and would continue to grow in popularity.
Barbara Allen became one of the most sung tragic ballads from Great Britain. What was the reason for it being so liked? The lyrics could give some indication:
It was in and about the Martinmas time,
When the green leaves were a falling,
That Sir John Graeme in the west country
Fell in love with Barbara Allan.
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.'
O it's I'm sick, and very, very sick,
And 't is a' Barbara Allan:'
'O the better for me ye's never be,
Tho your heart's blood were a spilling.
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?'
He turned his face unto the wall,
And death was with him dealing:
'Adieu, adieu, my dear friends all,
And be kind to Barbara Allan.'
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.
She had not gane a mile but two
When she heartd the death-bell ringing,
And every jow that the death-bell geid,
It cry'd, Woe to Barbara Allan!
'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.'
The ballad tells of a lovesick man on his deathbed, who sends for the object of his affections - Barbara Allen. She arrives and he pleads for her love but she refuses to give it. Barbara claims he had slighted her by flirting with other women. The man passes away before they can reconcile, and when she hears the church bells for his funeral, she is overcome with grief and dies the next day from a broken heart.
One of the reasons for its popularity may be the way it encourages lovers not to fight and live with regret, but rather say what is one's soul, because there may not be a tomorrow. This is could be characterized as a courageous type of love, which the this song tries to communicate to its listener. The song would be performed by many talented performers; Simon & Garfunkel, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Andreas Scholl, Frank Turner etc. would make it their own. Tragic love stories were also, then as now, a popular subject and tugs at the emotions of everyone who has ever loved.
Thank you for reading!
Going by the names Barb'ra Allyn, Barbara Ellen, Barbara Allen and Barbara Hellen; this Scottish folk song from the 17th century CE would become one of the most popular English-language ballads. It would grow in renown in the British Isles and then the song would go on to touch down on North American shores, brought by the settlers from Great Britain and Ireland. We'll look at what made this song stand from the countless other that vied for the ears of listeners.
Ballad of Barbara Allen
Samuel Pepys was the first to make mention of Barbara Allen being sung, at a New Year's Eve party in 1665. The esteemed English diarist describes how Elizabeth Knepp, a British actress and singer, sang her little Scotch song of Barbary Allen. In 1690 a broadside (printed sheets of paper, usually adorned with poems and songs) was published in London, which indicates that that the song had entered the cultural bloodstream by then. The song reached North America in the 19th century and would continue to grow in popularity.
 |
| Barbara Allen represented in the Forget-Me-Not Songster c. 1840. |
Barbara Allen became one of the most sung tragic ballads from Great Britain. What was the reason for it being so liked? The lyrics could give some indication:
It was in and about the Martinmas time,
When the green leaves were a falling,
That Sir John Graeme in the west country
Fell in love with Barbara Allan.
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.'
O it's I'm sick, and very, very sick,
And 't is a' Barbara Allan:'
'O the better for me ye's never be,
Tho your heart's blood were a spilling.
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?'
He turned his face unto the wall,
And death was with him dealing:
'Adieu, adieu, my dear friends all,
And be kind to Barbara Allan.'
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.
She had not gane a mile but two
When she heartd the death-bell ringing,
And every jow that the death-bell geid,
It cry'd, Woe to Barbara Allan!
'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.'
 |
| Illustration by H M Brock (1875-1960) |
The ballad tells of a lovesick man on his deathbed, who sends for the object of his affections - Barbara Allen. She arrives and he pleads for her love but she refuses to give it. Barbara claims he had slighted her by flirting with other women. The man passes away before they can reconcile, and when she hears the church bells for his funeral, she is overcome with grief and dies the next day from a broken heart.
 |
| Barbara Allen illustration by Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale. |
One of the reasons for its popularity may be the way it encourages lovers not to fight and live with regret, but rather say what is one's soul, because there may not be a tomorrow. This is could be characterized as a courageous type of love, which the this song tries to communicate to its listener. The song would be performed by many talented performers; Simon & Garfunkel, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Andreas Scholl, Frank Turner etc. would make it their own. Tragic love stories were also, then as now, a popular subject and tugs at the emotions of everyone who has ever loved.
Thank you for reading!
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