Barbara Allen - Lomax Prison Recording

[Istaysmoking]

An' from her grave there sprung a rose

An' from his grave a brier

They wrapped and tied in a lovers' knot

An' lived an' died together.

*carpse=corpse

and obviously they are not posted in the correct order.

[Istaysmoking]

She wheeled around and went back home Along as she was journeyin' She looked to de East, and looked to the West She saw the carpse a-comin'. Oh, mother, mother, fix my bed An' make it long an' narrow A young man died for me today An' I must die for him tomorrow. Little Willie died on Saturday night An' Bobby died on Sunday Little Willie died on Saturday night He were buried on Easter Monday.

[Istaysmoking]

Remember, 'member de other day When you in town a-drinkin' You treated all the ladies 'round An' slighted Bobby Allen. He sent his servants to the town Up to his Bobby's dwellin' Your master dear lies sick in bed It will kill his Bobby Allen. Slowly, slowly she got up An' went unto his dwellin' She raised the curtains as she walked in, Young man, I think you a'really dyin'. Yes, I am sick, I'm very sick An' death is on my dwellin' I never shall see my time again If I don't get Bobby Allen.

[Istaysmoking]

you should give credit to the woman singing the song....Hule Hines

[unsignedchar]

bed, not bad

[unsignedchar]

she wheeled around and went back home / along as she was journeying / she looked to the east and looked to the west / she saw the ? / oh mother mother make my bad / and make it long and narrow / a young man died for me today / and I must die for him tomorrow / lil willie died on saturday night / and bobby died on sunday / lil willie died on saturday night / he was dead on easter monday / and from her grave they'll strung a rope

...

I tried my best. Sorry, it's really tough.

[Istaysmoking]

@unsignedchar there ya go

[DerrickInspector]

anybody got the lyrics?

[DatsaMeee]

Alan didn't die rich, and seemed to struggle to make money all his life. I don't know if the claims that he made "several fortunes" are true. 

[Rogermiler]

Thank you so much for making this available on Youtube. Alan Lomax was the folk hero of the century. Thank God for his work. So much would have been lost forever were it not for his tireless, more often than not unpaid, work.

[Destiny4511]

@Rogermiler "more often than not unpaid, work."

Not exactly unpaid... if you look at the copyrights on all of Leadbelly's songs, they show written by Hudie Ledbetter and Alan Lomax, which gave him half of Leadbelly's royalties. Songs like "Midnight Special". , "Goodnight Irene", "In the Pines", and many more were worth several fortunes. I'm sure he similarly grabbed co-writer royalties on all. songs he collected.

[mbluth1]

@Destiny4511 John Szwed's biography goes into the rights issue in some detail. Short version: he made money on very few, and the performers kept the copyright under many of the contracts they signed, which was more fair than was common in those days.

[grizzlyten]

What an unusual video. Yes, very haunting, and the visuals are stunning.

[Stanfordroad]

My Daddy would sing this to me when I was little..and I would cry and cry...lovely..

[spriteofbones]

eerie!

[bobbbxxx]

Nicely done!

[sublimeruca27]

epic. 

[amyjohn5555]

One of my favorite ballads.

[STEVEFINNERTY]

beautiful

[maisquisuije]

incredible song...

[svaaangus]

brunetteliana76- the prisoners name was Hule "Queen" Hines

[throovest]

Epitemy of brill folk song / singing

[Sheamusj]

Moves my soul, bringing tears.

Thank you and kind best wishes from Canada!

[gotrek860]

Your videos are greeat  thanks for sharing!

[RatherCrunchyMuffin]

this is actually an english folk song, so in a distant way North Yorkshire is relevant

[Daddymccourt]

Not English but a Scots song originating among the original Scots in Northern Ireland.

[fanchbrezoneg]

That's correct .

[royalcourtier]

@Daddymccourt There is no definite indication of English, Scottish or Irish origin. Howevever notably the first reference is in Pepys diary, the lyrics are standard English (and not Scottish or other regional dialect), and the only geographical reference is to Scarlett Town - which some have interpreted as a reference to Reading. On balance I would say it is most probably an English song.

[Daddymccourt]

@royalcourtier Correct, at least not in the song. It is what is sometimes known as a Parlour Song, sung by the upper classes therefore in "proper" English. As for the source I refer you to "Ballads and Songs from the Provinces of Ireland" by Padraic Oliver, Dublin 1681. It is accredited to one John Currie of Belfast.

[blindboyblue]

What a great post man. Oddly goes really well with the North Yorshire pics. Almost convinces me it's a domestic folk song. Good work

[ariela333]

there is no repentance for salvation to those who have done this to a defenseless people who had more God in their little finger than their oppressors....

[GypsyFairy69]

Just haunting...

[bugsycline]

this is wonderful.....

[BrunetteLiana76]

Did the Lomax's ever got the prisoners name, on this song? Great singing.

[volgodon]

Which prison was this in?

[KingsOfNYDIPSET]

recorded by John and Ruby Lomax at the Florida State Penitentiary 1939

[esmeraldamabasak]

He sings a version very much like the Child Ballad 84A - whereas the old-fashioned printed versions for singing in drawing -rooms were different and left out the reason for Barbara snubbing Sir John. How did a man with such valuable musical lore come to be in prison?

[utopico82]

I love thi song,thanx for post this wonder files

[Truthseekerfinder]

Beautiful!!!! Thank you!