Listen to this song!
Galway City
On March 12, 1685
Philosopher George Berkeley is born the eldest son to William Berkeley, an officer of customs, near Kilkenny in Ireland.
Home
The Band
» recordings
» photos
» videos
» news
» tour dates
» dún aengus
» past members
» influences
The Ballad Archive
The Forum
Contact Us
Account Login
CD QUIZ:
Answer these questions for a chance to win the King Laoghaire CD Courtin' the Ginger Lady.
1. What popular radio show were presented by Kieran Hanrahan?
Céilí House
An Fear Ceoil
The Late Session
2. What's the name of fiddler Maurice Lennons father?
John Lennon
Charlie Lennon
Ben Lennon
Name:
E-mail:
Barbara Allen
(Trad)
Michaelmas Day being a day in the year
When the green leaves, they were falling
Young Johnny Grove from the north country
Fell in love with Barbara Allen

He sent his servants out one day
To see if she was coming
"One word from you would bring to me
If you be Barbara Allen"

"Get up, get up," her mother said
"Get up and go and see him"
"O mamma dear, do you not mind the time
That you told me how to shun him?"

"Get up, get up," her father said
"Get up and go and see him"
O father dear, do you not mind the time
That you told me how to slight him?"

Slowly, slowly, she got up
And slowly she put on her
And slowly went to his bedside
And slowly looked upon him

"You're lying low young man" she said
"And almost near a dying"
"One word from you will bring to me
If you be Barbara Allen"

"One word from me, you never will get
Nor any young man breathing
For the better of me, you never will be
If your heart's blood was a spilling"

"Look at my bed foot" he said
"And there you'll see them lying
Bloody sheets and bloody shirts
That I swear for Barbara Allen"

"Look at my bed head" he said
"And there you'll find it ticking
My gold watch and my gold chain
I bestow to Barbara Allen"

As she went over her father's hall
She heard the dead bell ringing
And every chop the dead bell gave
It was woe to Barbara Allen

As she went over her father's green
She saw his corpse a coming
"Lay down, lay down that weary corpse
'Til I get looking on him"

They lifted the lid up off the corpse
She bursted out with laughing
And all his wearied friends around
Cried "Hard hearted Barbara Allen"

She went into her father's house
Saying "Make my bed long and narrow
For the dead bell did ring for my true love today
It will ring for me tomorrow"

Out of one grave there grew a red rose
And out of the other a briar
And they both twisted into a true lover's knot
And there remained forever
« Back
NEWEST ADDITIONS
to the Ballad Archive:
1. The Galway Girl
2. Nancy Spain
3. Whiskey In The Jar
4. Lads Among The Heather
5. Mary From Dungloe
MOST POPULAR BALLADS
in March:
1. Ireland's Call
2. The Soldier's Song
3. The Raggle Taggle Gypsy
4. The Black Velvet Band
5. All For Me Grog
MOST POPULAR BALLADS
of all time:
1. Ireland's Call
2. The Soldier's Song
3. The Raggle Taggle Gypsy
4. After The Ball Is Over
5. The Black Velvet Band