Joan Baez. Barbara Allen with lyrics
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- Опубликовано: 16 сен 2024
- One of my very favourite old traditional sweet sad love songs
which I first heard many years ago.
With love for my friends, Willemina
A diary entry by Samuel Pepys on January 2, 1666 contains the earliest extant reference to the song. In it, he recalls the fun and games at a New Years party:
"...but above all, my dear Mrs Knipp with whom I sang; and in perfect pleasure I was to hear her sing, and especially her little Scotch song of Barbary Allen."
There are many versions of the tragic love ballad "Barbara Allen."
The one presented below here is one of the oldest and so it may
be as near to the original Scottish story as any that can be found.
Lyrics below of the traditional ballad, "Barbara Allen."
In Scarlet Town, Where I was born
There was a fair maid dwellin'
Made every youth cry "Well-a-day"
For the love of Barbara Allen
'Twas in the merry month of May
When green buds were a swellin'
Sweet William came from the west country
And fell in love with Barbara Allen.
He courted her for seven long years
'Til his heart in him was failin'
And begged his love to marry him
But "No" said Barbara Allen.
Then on a somber autumn day
When all the leaves were fallin'
Sweet William on his deathbed lay
For the love of Barbara Allen.
He sent his servant to the town,
To the place where she was dwellin',
Sayin' "You must come to my master dear,
If your name be Barbara Allen."
"For death is printed on his face,
And o'er his heart is stealin'
Then haste away to comfort him
Oh lovely Barbara Allen."
So slowly, slowly she came up
And slowly she drew nigh him
And the only words to him did say
Were "Young man I think you're dyin'"
"Oh yes, I'm sick and very low
And death is o'er me dwellin',
But better, no better, I ever shall be
If I can't have Barbara Allen."
"You may be sick and very low,
And death be o'er you dwellin,
But better, no better you ever will be
For you can't have Barbara Allen...
Don't you remember in yonder town,
In yonder town a-drinking?
You gave a toast to the ladies round,
But you slighted Barbara Allen."
"Oh yes, I remember in yonder town
When we were in the tavern,
I gave a toast to the ladies 'round,
But gave my heart to Barbara Allen."
"If on your deathbed you do lie,
What needs the tale you're tellin'?
I cannot save you from your death.
Farewell," said Barbara Allen.
He turned his pale face to the wall,
As death was drawing nigh him.
"Adieu, adieu, to my friends all.
Be kind to Barbara Allen."
As she went walking through the fields,
She heard the birds a-singin',
And as they sang, they seemed to say:
"Hard-hearted Barbara Allen!"
As she walked further through the fields
She heard the death-bells ringing,
And every note to her did say:
"Hard-hearted Barbara Allen!"
Her eyes looked east, her eyes looked west
She spied the corpse a-comin
"Lay down, lay down the corpse!" she said,
"That I may look upon him."
And as she looked upon his face,
She bursted out a-crying,
"Oh pick me up, and take me home,
For now I am a-dyin'."
"Oh mother, Oh mother, go make my bed,
Make it both long and narrow
Sweet William died for me today
And I shall die tomorrow."
"Oh father, oh father, go dig my grave
Dig it both long and narrow,
Sweet William died of love for me
And I shall die of sorrow."
"Hard-hearted creature, him to slight,
Who hath loved me so dearly -
Oh, that I'd been more kind to him
When he was live and near me.
She on her deathbed as she lay
Begged to be buried by him
And sore repented of the day
That she did e'er deny him.
Barbara Allen was buried in the old churchyard
And William they buried nigh her
Out of William's heart, there grew a rose
Out of Barbara Allen's, a briar.
They grew and grew up the old church wall
'Til they could grow no higher,
And there they formed a true love's knot -
The rose wrapp'd round the briar.
We often had to sing this at school and at 9 or 10 I thought it the dreariest and most depressing song ever. It's still so sad, but at 76, after a life of love and loss, it's now very deeply understood and touching.
My grandmother sang this all the time and died at 24 shortly after her first boy died I never met her my mother can't remember her face.we only got this tune from the retired post man in her village a year before he passed.he said she was always singing it.she hailed from mayo and Joan and Maureen o hara sing in the same style as in the quiet man movie filmed in Cong just down the road from her home place as a teenager.beautifull tune worth hanging on to.
I start every day with that song.then I play jewlis fowley from the outer Hebrides she sings the songs that were carried on the wind to my ancestors in south Norway and drew them out to conquer the known world as I am soon to prove with the viking fort I have excavated on the land they told me to buy.alk I will say is martial spirit is what my ancestors believed in religion was respected but only if the person was morally correct that is all that matters nothing else matters much love to all tavtusa I mo chroi gach la.
Fowlis apologies to the lady in q.
My mother used to sing this to me when I was little. She passed away Thursday and I needed to hear this.
In the marvelous 1951 film version of "A Christmas Carol", starring Alastair Sim, Scrooge's nephew Fred and his Christmas guests are gathered around the piano, singing "Barbara Allen", when Scrooge enters, seeking forgiveness for his past meanness. He quietly goes over to Fred's wife, who is sitting on the sofa, and asks: "Can you forgive a stupid, pig-headed old man for having had no eyes to see with, no ears to hear with, all these years?" She smiles broadly, leads him to the center of the room, and the two of them begin to dance a polka. This scene gets me tearing up every time; and it's what I always think of whenever I think of "Barbara Allen".
Love that version of the movie no one played Scrooge like Sims did. He captured the victorian era perfectly, one of my all time favorite actors an movies.That was a touching scene an shows the disparity of the classes in England society and how the song Barbra Allen crossed all lines
It features strongly in Alfred Hitchcock Presents - Make my Death Bed.
The movie is great, the short story by Dickens less so. His most famous work because of its popularization through the movies. How many can say they actually read it? The movie is an example where the film exceeds the novel. Make no mistake, Dickens is a great writer. I loved The Old Curiosity Shop and Martin Chuzzlewit. I soon will read Oliver Twist. But if you read the book after watching Alistair Sims in A Christmas Carol, you may be disappointed.
me too
I love that film! It's such an emotional scene! I adore Joan Baez. She is simply beautiful and sings like an angel.
Omg when my mother sang this song I thought it would never end lmao she passed away last year you never know what you have until it's gone can't get enough of it now she's with my dad now the rose and the brier. 😇😥🤔😍😍
Hello gorgeous!! How are you doing?
In my family, this song has been taught to the next generation for many, many years.
As a young Lass, I knew I would be fully grown only once I had memorized all the words to this song and passed it on to my own dear wee bairns.
My daughter sings it now to her four year old twins. And she is 30.
and my son...?
My son called me homesick once, when he was away for the summer,, when he was a Lad of about 10 years old..., and asked me to sing it to him, for old sakes time.
I sang every verse, and he cried, just a little, but then the said he felt much better.
If this song has truly been passed down in your family for years, I'd be very interested to know exactly how you sing it. Could you please let me know roughly where you're from (I'm guessing Scotland), what tune is used (is it similar to this one?) and how close the lyrics are to this version. Thanks!
Here is a playlist with lots of different traditional versions so you can choose which ones are closest to your family's version: ruclips.net/video/ogRkWfg4uLI/видео.html
This woman didn't get NEAR enough credit for her angelic voice...
Cydne Vacio not as good as my mom’s though.
Sadly politics reared its ugly face.
Lynn Baker No, the politics came from a heart longing for peace and justice, for a better world. Who can criticize that and still be given ear?
Sure she did, everybody back in the 60's that was in love with folk music, they all loved joan baez, from bob dylan and donovan down, even judas priest...
I disagree. Anyone alive in the 60s would know how well she sang.
Every gardener in all time has asked, why something so beautiful has such wicked thorns. Wicked Barbra and beautiful William together they are bound in a true love knot.
I included this version of Barbara Allen in my latest "Phonograph to Folk Revival" video: ruclips.net/video/rzH9HaST5JA/видео.html
The series compares similar recordings of the same traditional songs by traditional singers and popular musicians.
Feel free to subscribe to my channel if you're interested in traditional folk music!
@@TheFolkRevivalProject Have you ever heard an old Irish or Celtic song called "the lament of the waterhorse". I heard it once, long long ago and have looked and listened but not again. The singer needs to go up three or four octaves with strength and most singers are unable to do it. I guess that's why. It's a hard song to sing correctly and not worthy otherwise.
I am from the Appalachian Mountains and can my late parents singing this lovely old ballad. Great job Ms. Baez!
You might be interested in a video I made about old ballads being preserved in the Appalachians: ruclips.net/video/mUGoWwGKwSA/видео.html
Me too. And I can recall my mother singing...
Hedy West is good too
I first heard this, by her, in the early sixties, when I was in 2nd grade. It made me cry then, and still does. Never, ever heard a better recording.
Me too. More familiar with Pete Seeger's version. This is gorgeous though ❤️.
Me too. Born in 1953
Loveisall, listen to engine 143 you’ll cry 😢 even more
Here from the “Like a Velvet Glove Cast in Iron”. Beautiful yet harrowing. RIP Madame Van Damme.
A song which is dear to my heart. Whispering on the wind of time
my beautiful Mother sang this song to more times then I could count, upon my request !! I truly miss my Mom beautiful voice .But was done beautifully by Joan B
My Mam also, I'd forgotten most of the words, thankfully with this I can now I sing it to myself 🙂
My name is Sissy too, short for Felicity. My mother sang this for her daughters too.., upon request ., and we in turn sang it to our children.., until at last they are old enough to know all the words by heart and they can sing it to their sweet bairns.
My Mother sang Barbara Allen to me when I was a little girl. Her mothers Hampton line went back to the 1600’s in England where this wonderful song started. I haven’t heard it for a long time. I love it more now.
I often heard Mama singing this back in the '50s, as she cooked on a wood stove. It was one of those "core" songs of Appalachia. Her own family went back to two brothers who came ashore here in the first wave of colonists. I'm sure this ballad came with them, though they were Scots.
I can't remember all the verses, but there were a lot more than this "Readers Digest" abbreviation here. She told a whole long tale this way, from the time we woke till breakfast; at least an hour long, and each one differing, yet maintaining the refrain.
She always stopped when we sat down for red eye gravy and biscuits. (Sing at the table, and whistle in the bed, then the Devil will catch you before you're dead, was a superstition even more long-standing than this song.)
Memories. In the end, that's all we really save in life.
My Mom was Barbara. My eldest brother and eldest son are both Alans, not Allen. I miss my Mother singing this as well. You’re not alone. ❤️
I've always loved Joan Baez's clear, sweet voice!!
Hello gorgeous!! How are you doing?
My favourite primary school song at age ten.just love it
I remember this song being sung to me and my siblings as young children, means so much to hear it. I can hear my mom's voice as it plays..
Joan love the way you portrayed this song great vocals singing it old timmey is the best way to go you kinda preserved the song with all its beauty
Damn, she still knows how to sing a song and still sings like an angel.
Michael - What do you mean “still”? This is a 60 year old recording.
Joan Baez sings like an angel because she is an angel, I think. Or maybe she's divine. Oh, hell, that's not a high enough compliment. Joan Baez sings like Joan Baez because she is Joan Baez. There can only be one Joan Baez. Ever. Anything she sings turns to mithril. (For those people who aren't J.R.R. Tolkien nuts: Mithril is way more rare and beautiful than gold).
No she doesn't. I was a huge fan and went to her concert in Australia a few years ago, and she couldn't even be bothered putting any effort into it. She forgot words, she just sat on a chair in the middle of the stage and almost just talked the songs. I was so disgusted. I will never pay good money to see her again.
@@tomjones3013 Well, she sings like an angel sometimes.
@@MundaSquire she used to sing like an angel, but now she doesn't have much respect for her fans.
I think this is a good way to represent a " MASTERPIECE "
I must wonder how anyone could put a thumbs down for this rendition. Not only is Baez's voice stunning but her pronunciation is such that the words are clear. This is not an easy feat as other versions demonstrate.
Exactly.
My momma sang this to me every night. How I miss your beautiful voice.
Who's here from "The Ballad of song birds and snakes" book? It's my first time hearing this song while waiting the movie release. O my gosh. The book introduced me to so many ballads that I'm hunting now. Everyone and everything about them is hauntingly beautiful in a chilling yet peaceful way.
This is the most beautiful song I've ever heard in my life.
There are a lot of good versions of this song, but I think this one's the best.
What an exquisitely beautiful voice, and such amazing paintings to match. Tears are streaming down my face.
From studying English poetry, music and such, this is such a lovely old song.
I was brought here following a Joan Baez documentary on AXS TV. What a beautiful and sad song. I was but a teen when it was published, full of imagination and hopes of romance. But what really drove me to comment are the stunning images Willemina has chosen! What a strikingly beautiful video. If there ever are awards but such postings, this one would certainly be deserving. My thanks for sharing.
I learned the words in my high school English class but this is the first time I have heard it sung in its entirety. Joan Baez does a beautiful job.
I read this today in English class, Ive never have paid much attention to literature in English, but for some reason I had decided to look at the page and found it quite interesting. Thank you for posting this.
Thank you for taking an interest, same happend with me with Porphyrias Lover
I agree. The epitome of sweet female singing. Unmatched.
And now kids, you know why every rose has it's thorn.
Roses don't fucking have thorns, they have prickles which are outgrowths from the outer layer, thorns are modified stems.
@@johnbismarck3841 Do you always get angry at nothing?
@@johnbismarck3841 Yeah dude chill
I found a few pricks, but where are the roses??
@@johnbismarck3841 Speaking of pricks . . . .
Great song, beautifully sung, dont try to analyse it, just enjoy it.
No
Rather like "Baby, It's Cold Outside" is a lovely song, great performance piece, just relax and enjoy it and don't analyze...
Half the fun of music is the analysis
one of the best voices of our time.
A great old song. Sung superbly by a great singer.
Joan has been a top favorite of mine among singers since I first heard her sing "Fennario" decades ago, and I readily admit to being biassed in her favor. To me, her range of expression in so many songs that she has performed I would classify as nothing short of fantastic or phenomenal. I often think that she could sing names from a phone book and make it into a beautiful and pleasing song. Needless to say, her lyrics always have much more meaningful content than mere names: e.g.; her version of the beautiful anti-war song of "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda". And to the Aussie who wrote it, kudos!
Quite simply the most beautiful song and great pictures to accompany it.
Yes I'm home alone, already missing you. You're up later tonight with someone else than you've been with me in years. Hurting. Alone.
What a great job Joan. Loved the art work. So many versions of this song out there.
When I meet new people I remind them if they remember this song then they can remember me.
This song goes back 400 yrs ..God bless those who went before us.
Had to find a version, since we sang it at school, over 45 years ago for me, and although a pretty tune, I never 'knew' the words, so yes for me as well today, I have welled up, so poignant and beautiful.
i would like to have that heavenly voice.Pure joy
I heard this song on a 1950’s version of “A Christmas Carol”! They sing it at Scrooge’s nephew’s dinner.
When i was around three or four years old, my mother used to sing a lot. She sang Barbara Allen (to a different tune and a different version of the words than this one) while cooking me my oatmeal, doing dishes, house cleaning, or hanging out the laundry. So it brings me very fond old memories.
A beautiful selection of paintings to accompany the song -- well done!
Ha! I always sing this song because of the movie Best In Show but I never knew if it was a real song or something they wrote for the movie. 👏🏻
Breathtakingly gorgeous video. Thanks for putting it together. It must have taken a lot of effort to find just the right images to fit the lyrics so beautifully.
This song is so sad I think the most warmhearted part is the end how the rose grew around the brier most folk song have no meaning or moral this songs meaning is love and the moral is love never dies I just love this song
You couldn't be more wrong. Actually folk songs more commonly have morals, meanings and stories. You just have to read the lyrics to find that out. If you want music without morals listen to modern pop and rock.
WRONG! Most folk songs have a long history with a lot of meaning.
For me the moral of this story is don't be manipulated by emotional blackmail. It's a tactic that abusers use.
If you have not shed a tear after this, examine your own heart! A shameless 17th century tear-jerker, but closer to the bone, closer to reality, even today, than one might suppose. When the song was written, death was an everyday reality, and lovesick protagonists often very young.
Beautiful, Joan always manages to touch my heart!
Reading The Infernal Devices and decided to listen to one of Bridget's songs
Perfection in an imperfect world...
So beatufull and sad a wonderfull song
Nice job, Willemina, with matching the art to the song. Well done.
This poem is amazing...I saw it in a text..
I sang this is chorus years ago. Thank you for the post it brought back a lot of good memories 😊
Best In Show brought me here. Lovely song, glad to have found it.
There has been no other voice as velvety pure in my lifetime.
Jeff Loewi
I listened to this as a little girl. The LP played on the hi-fi at the foot of the stairs. We were so lucky to have parents who loved all sorts of great music.
Look up Classical Barbra (Streisand). In the right genre, her voice was also sweet yet powerful.
Me old Mam used to sing that song to us kids over 70 years ago. Still moves me.
I included this version of Barbara Allen in my latest "Phonograph to Folk Revival" video: ruclips.net/video/rzH9HaST5JA/видео.html
The series compares similar recordings of the same traditional songs by traditional singers and popular musicians.
Feel free to subscribe to my channel if you're interested in traditional folk music!
Could bring a tear to your eye!
chillingly beautifull...... shivers.....forever greatfull to this amazing singer....thanks Joan Baez....
The headmistress at my primary school sang this song to us. I can't think why, as it's hardly suitable for 9 and 10 year old children. Still, I find it very evocative after more than 60 years.
This song is for all ages of those who love great music!!!
💔❤🩹 Beautiful song!!!
Beautiful song, and lovely voice and lyrics, I know it is very old.
Thanks for posting
Omg after all these years. I never new what the song was in scrooge. You are so right but the wonderful part is when the maid opens the door and smiles at scrooge and nods it's alright. It's the most beautiful cinema I've ever seen.
Beautiful video and a beautiful song.
One of the best ballads for me.
I included this version of Barbara Allen in my latest "Phonograph to Folk Revival" video: ruclips.net/video/rzH9HaST5JA/видео.html
The series compares similar recordings of the same traditional songs by traditional singers and popular musicians.
Feel free to subscribe to my channel if you're interested in traditional folk music!
Yes, thank you for this 😊. It is one of my most beloved memories and always makes me tear up as well. And the 1951 Christmas Carol with Alistair Sim is one of the top five films of all time
Ho! All these olds songs so sad and pretties... Joan stay idéal artist to sing that... From France.
this is such a great song almost made me cry reminds me of my aunt
Beautifully done
A beautiful traditional Scottish ballad. A lot of people mistake it as being Irish
I think not. William and Barbara are distinctly English given names.
It's a traditional English folk song ….
The song is probably of Scottish origin. However, it has had a presence in England, Ireland and North America for several centuries.
I included this version of Barbara Allen in my latest "Phonograph to Folk Revival" video: ruclips.net/video/rzH9HaST5JA/видео.html
The series compares similar recordings of the same traditional songs by traditional singers and popular musicians.
Feel free to subscribe to my channel if you're interested in traditional folk music!
I does sound like an English song, but Samuel Pepys (17th C.) mentions it and refers to it as Scottish. I guess it doesn't matter. It's beautiful and sad and the emotion is surely universal 😊.
@@alisdairolavhorgen2173
Pepys called it 'Scotch' not 'Scottish. In the late 1600's following the restoration of the Stuart monarchy there was a craze for songs with Scottish themes, tunes and characters - they were called 'Scotch tunes'.
But they were written by English ballad writers. All the evidence points to 'Barbara Allen' being a 'Scotch tune'.
Sad song of unrequited love. Sang beautifully by Joan. Thanks v v much.
Sweet, Belissimo, canto de anjos?!!!!
Amazing beauty.
My friend who is Wiccan sings this song every Beltane, AKA May Day. She combines verses from another version by Art Garfunkel.
It’s believed that the rose and briar forming an eternal lover’s knot represent the union of the Goddess-earth-and the sun-God, which makes the earth more fertile
Lovely song and really beautiful illustrations too.
so beautiful.. 💕 thanks for my english class teaching us some old ballad songs and this one was my fave 💕💕
Love this song who else sings it?
Beautiful art to illustrate the lyrics. The lady on the Chaise Longue looks like one I’ve seen of either Caroline Lamb or Josephine.
Beautifully done ❤🌹💖💔😢💝💞
We as americans must save an embrass are british isles roots an the beauty of are culture an history! Not destroy it and shun it as evil an without merit as many in this country are trying to blot out our anglo heritage.this lovely and touching ballad is just one example sang by a woman that stood up for peace and love in a time of hate with many others of her time.
A Bend in the River brought me here.
Wow.. first time to hear this music. And it was beautiful but tragic. :(
beautiful video and the song breaks your heart and makes you weep. Leszek
I had forgotten about this great old song. Thanks for posting it. The art in the video is fabulous.
I included this version of Barbara Allen in my latest "Phonograph to Folk Revival" video: ruclips.net/video/rzH9HaST5JA/видео.html
The series compares similar recordings of the same traditional songs by traditional singers and popular musicians.
Feel free to subscribe to my channel if you're interested in traditional folk music!
'Twas in the merry month of May
When green buds all were swellin'
Sweet William on his death bed lay
For love of Barbara Allen
He sent his servant to the town
To the place where she was dwellin'
Saying, "You must come to my master, dear
If your name be Barbara Allen"
So slowly, slowly she got up
And slowly she drew nigh him
And the only words to him did say
"Young man, I think you're dying"
He turned his face unto the wall
And death was in him wellin'
"Goodbye, goodbye to my friends all
Be good to Barbara Allen"
When he was dead and laid in grave
She heard the death bells knellin'
And every stroke to her did say
"Hard-hearted Barbara Allen"
"Oh, mother, oh, mother, go dig my grave
Make it both long and narrow
Sweet William died of love for me
And I will die of sorrow"
"And father, oh, father, go dig my grave
Make it both long and narrow
Sweet William died on yesterday
And I will die tomorrow"
Barbara Allen was buried in the old churchyard
Sweet William was buried beside her
Out of sweet William's heart there grew a rose
Out of Barbara Allen's, a briar
They grew and grew in the old churchyard
Till they could grow no higher
At the end they formed a true lover's knot
And the rose grew 'round the briar
Because of school I discover this beautiful song
Lovely song first learned it in primary school
My dad used to sing this.
Hello gorgeous!! How are you doing?
Dieses Lied habe ich geliebt und oft gesungen.
First time I have heard this version of this lovely old song. An excellent rendition!
Henüz on sekiz yaşındaydım. Bir gün, hocamız edebiyata giriş dersine bu balladla başladı. Sonra 18 yaşındaki masum halimi, bölümümü, fakültemi, Kayseri’yi bu balladı dinleyerek özleyeceğimden habersiz o anı kalbimle yaşadım. Ben bu dünyaya bin defa gelsem bininde de İngiliz dili ve edebiyatı okurum. Bininde de ‘Be good to Barbara Allen’ denildiğinde aynı şeyi düşünürüm. Tüm kalbinle aşık olmak, onun için hissettiğin duygudan kaçmadan bir şeyler yaşamak ne demek tatmak isterim. Bir yerlerde edebiyat dersi işlenirken yine youtube’da bu video açılırsa benim için de o dersin keyfini çıkarın.
Lovely video, thank you for putting so much effort in finding all these matching paintings.
Absolutely ❤️
Beautiful song
what a sad story(( She heard the birds a-singin',
And as they sang, they seemed to say:
"Hard-hearted Barbara Allen!"))
Beautiful Scottish ballad and later folk song (those English people in doubt should consult The New Penguin Book of Folk Songs).
There is no evidence that it is Scottish at all. Earliest reference is Samuel Pepys hearing it sung at a party in 1666. He called it a 'Scotch' song but they were a fad the time - songs with Scottish themes, tunes and characters but written by English ballad writers.
@@YorkyOne See my reply above. As a Liz Truss fan, you may be feeling dejected.
@@strutherhill
What a stupid irrelevant comment.
But to repeat for the cloth eared - a ' Scotch song in Pepys' late 1600's London was not a 'Scottish song' it was a genre song and prior to it being sung at a posh London party in January 1666 by a theatre actress there are no earlier references to the 'little Scotch' song Barbara Allen.
@@strutherhill
And as per my comment elsewhere The New Penguin Book of English Folk Songs (I notice you left out the English) says no such thing and that all the evidence points to BA being English in origin and not Sottish at all.
Beautiful
Joan's voice is a tremolo, and a beautiful one! Also lovely is the tremolo of Nana Mouskouri, a Greek singer. The prettiest vibratos I've heard are those of Sissel (Norway) and Charlotte Church (Welsh.)