Folk Travelers: Ballads, Tales and Talk Page: 51
261 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.View a full description of this book.
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BONNY BARBARA ALLEN
II
The most historically distinguished model of "Barbara Allen"
in existence is the old Scotch version, and it carries more than one
mark of distinction. It has appeared in the largest number of famous
ballad books, was the first version ever to be published in an anthol-
ogy, and probably represents, traditionally speaking, the oldest
form of words and music in which the ballad has come down to us.
There is, indeed, the possibility that this venerable specimen may
be a close approximation to the unknown original composition. We
have no factual knowledge about the old Scotch version, however,
until 1740, the year in which it was published by James Oswald in
A Curious Collection of Scots Tunes and also by Allan Ramsay in
The Tea Table Miscellany.3 The ancient text has been abundantly
preserved in tradition, as well as in many reprintings, down to our
own time. The antiquated Aeolian tune has proved less durable. It
appears in English songbooks of the 19th century, and Gavin Greig's
scores show it still common in Scotland (where it was formerly
used also for "Binorie" and "The Rantin Laddie"), but I have not
encountered a survival of it in America, and its replacement by many
other tunes furnishes a striking example of the greater fluidity in
tradition of melody as contrasted with poem. From the following
score we can gain a fair idea of what "Barbara Allen" sounded like
in 17th century Scotland."
It was in am4 about the Martirmas time, When the green leaves were a-
I r j- I 1' I I II I II
falling, That Sir Jolm Groene in the Wet Country Fell in love with oarbra Alla,.
He sent his man down through the town
To the place where she was dwelling;
O haste and come to my master dear,
Gin ye be 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.51
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Folk Travelers: Ballads, Tales and Talk (Book)
This volume of the Publications of the Texas Folklore Society contains popular folklore of Texas and Mexico, including traveling anecdotes, folk ballads, folklore in natural history, as well as information about black and white magic, Western animals, and cattle brands. The index begins on page 259.
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Texas Folklore Society. Folk Travelers: Ballads, Tales and Talk, book, 1953; Dallas, Texas. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc38314/m1/57/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Press.