TRACK TALK #535 Barbara Allen

BARBARA ALLEN
ALBUM : Live at the Gaslight 1962 (2005)
Recorded : 15 Octobre 1962
Released : 30 Août 2005

Une ballade irlandaise traditionnelle populaire dès le 17ème siècle.
Elle revient à la mode lors du revival folk avec des versions de Pete Seeger, de Joan Baez, des Everly Brothers et de Simon & Garfunkel.
Devenue une favorite de Dylan, il la jouera sur la scène des cafés concerts new-yorkais avant de l'inclure à son répertoire des années 80.

Première performance live : New York (15 Octobre 1962)
Dernière performance live : Vienna, Virginie (20 Juillet 1991)
Total : 60 fois.



Lyrics
In Scarlet town where I was born
There was a fair maid dwelling
And every youth cried well away
For her name was Barbara Allen

'Twas in the merry month of May
The green buds were a swelling
Sweet William on his deathbed lay
For the love of Barbara Allen

He sent a servant unto her
To the place she was dwelling
Saying you must come to his deathbed now
If your name be Barbara Allen

Slowly, slowly she got up
Slowly, slowly she came nigh him
And the only words to him she said
Young man I think you're dying

As she was walking o'er the fields
She heard the death bell knelling
And every stroke it seemed to say
Hardhearted Barbara Allen

Oh, mother mother make my bed
Make it long and make it narrow
Sweet William died for me today
I'll die for him tomorrow

They buried her in the old churchyard
They buried him in the choir
And from his grave grew a red red rose
From her grave a green briar

They grew and grew to the steeple top
'Till they could grow no higher
And there they twined in a true love's knot
Red rose around green briar

In Scarlet town where I was born
There was a fair maid dwelling
And every youth cried well away
For her name was Barbara Allen

La version de Joan Baez :



Celle des Everly Brothers :



Et celle d'Art Garfunkel :