Barbara Allen (Geoffrey Shaw)

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• (Posted 2024-11-17)  CPDL #82774:         

Editor: Ian Haslam (submitted 2024-11-17).   Score information: A4, 8 pages, 147 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: In the original score, Bar 23, beat 2, has the Tenors singing quavers, whereas the piano part has a dotted quaver and a semi quaver. I have written the piano part into the tenor line. I have also made some editorial changes to the SA line to make it more readable.

General Information

Title: Barbara Allen
Composer: Geoffrey Shaw
Lyricist: Old Scots Ballad^{create page}
Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Folksong

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1937
Description: Originally published by J.Curwen and Sons Ltd number 61333.

Original text and translations

English text

It was in and about the Mart'mas time, When the green leaves were afallin',
That Sir John Graeme, in the West Countrie, Fell in love wi' Barb'ra Allan,

He sent his man down thro' the town, To the place where she was dwallin'.
"O haste and come to my master dear, Gin ye be Barb'ra Allan"

O hooly, hooly rase she up To the place where he was lyin',
And when she drew the curtain by,"Young man, I think ye're dyin'"

"It's oh, I'm sick, I'm very: sick, And it's a' for Barb'ra Allan."
"O, the better for me ye'se never be,Tho' your heart's blood were aspillin'"

"Oh, dinna ye mind, young man," she said "When the red wine ye were fillin'
That ye made the healths gae round and round, And slichted Barb'ra Allan?"

He turned unto the wa' And death was with him dealin'.
"Adieu, adieu, my dear friends a', And be kind to Barb'ra Allan."

O slowly, slowly rase she up, And slowly, slowly left him,
And sighin' said she could not stay, Since death of life had reft him.

She had na gane a mile but twa When she heard the deid bell knellin',
And every jow that the deid bell gied. It cried wae to Barb'ra Allen

Ah Ah O mother, mother mak' my bed, And mak' it saft and narrow.
Since my love died for me today, I'll die for him tomorrow.