This edition was prepared by Ian Haslam — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Barbara Allen
Staff Notation • Secular, Folk songs
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Barbara Allen by Geoffrey Shaw — Lyrics
It was in and about the Mart'mas time, When the green leaves were afallin',
That Sir John Graeme, in the West Countrie, Fell in love wi' Barb'ra Allan,
He sent his man down thro' the town, To the place where she was dwallin'.
"O haste and come to my master dear, Gin ye be Barb'ra Allan"
O hooly, hooly rase she up To the place where he was lyin',
And when she drew the curtain by,"Young man, I think ye're dyin'"
"It's oh, I'm sick, I'm very: sick, And it's a' for Barb'ra Allan."
"O, the better for me ye'se never be,Tho' your heart's blood were aspillin'"
"Oh, dinna ye mind, young man," she said "When the red wine ye were fillin'
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About Barbara Allen
Geoffrey Shaw's setting of the famous folk ballad Barbara Allen is arranged for SATB choir. The text tells the tragic story of unrequited love and its fatal consequences, a common theme in traditional ballads. Shaw's arrangement allows the choir to explore the narrative arc of the lyrics, from the initial declaration of love and the lover's illness to the heartbreaking rejection by Barbara Allen. The English folk song tradition provides a rich source of dramatic storytelling, and this setting captures the poignant and emotional core of the tale, making it a compelling choice for choirs looking to perform stirring secular repertoire.
