Barbara Allen
Judy Collins · Essential [2005]
When the green buds were swellin'.
A young man on his deathbed lay
For the love of Barbara Allen.
He sent his servant to the town,
Sent him to her dwellin'.
"My master's sick and and he sends for you
If you are Barbara Allen."
Then slowly, slowly she got up
Slowly she went nigh him,
And all she said when she got there was,
"My true love, you're dyin'."
He turned his face unto the wall,
Death was in him dwellin'
"Adieu, adieu, to all my sweet friends all.
Be kind to Barbara Allen."
As she was walked down the road to home
She saw his hearse a'coming
"Oh, lay him down on the cold, cold ground
That I may gaze upon him."
"Oh mother, mother make my bed
Make it soft and narrow.
For my true love has died today.
I'll die for him tomorrow."
They buried her by the old church tower
Him they lay beside her,
And from her grave, grew a red, red rose,
And from his grave, grew a briar.
They grew to the top of the old church tower,
Till they could grow no higher,
And there they twined in a true love's knot,
The red, red rose and the briar.
Barbara Allen - Judy Collins
Judy Collins' rendition of 'Barbara Allen' stands as a defining moment in American folk music history, capturing the haunting narrative of a young woman who traveled to a miller's house to ask for his love. Recorded on the 2005 Essential compilation, this track exemplifies Collins' signature style of blending traditional ballads with her distinctive, intimate vocal delivery. The song draws from the rich tapestry of English folk traditions, where the story of Barbara Allen has been retold for centuries, yet Collins' version remains a pivotal interpretation that influenced countless subsequent artists. Her performance emphasizes the melancholic and spiritual undertones of the original tale, transforming it into a timeless meditation on fate and longing that continues to resonate within the folk revival canon.