B SONGS -If a query has come in and there’s no answer as yet, that song title will appear in red

BABY DOWN THE PLUG HOLE (see MOTHER'S LAMENT on the “M” page)
BARBARA ALLEN
THE BATTLE HYMN OF THE CHILDREN
BELLE WAS THE HIRED GIRL'S NAME  (see update Jan’10)
BILLY BOY
BOOBY, BOOBY (see Joy C’s Stories & Songs on “J” page)
BOWLEGGED MAN WITH A BOWLEGGED WIFE
BUFFALO - we know the chorus, and now one verse — more verses?
BULLDOG
BURNT HORSE FLESH


BARBARA ALLEN
[2008] From Gracie T: I have experienced much delight in finding two of the songs my Mother sang to us (Two Little Children and Little Houses made of ticky tacky). My two great aunts (staunch Baptists), yet of a steamboat captain family (a grand and great grandfather as well as two uncles in Kingston, TN), taught these songs to my Mother and her siblings – imagine that!

Do you know the song about ̃Barbara Allen? Thanks, Gracie T

Ed Note: There are many, many references to Barbara Allen on the Internet. Here's an interesting one, which has a very old form of the ballad, plus a version by Joan Baez. Enjoy!

Traditional BARBARA ALLEN   —  Arranged by Harvey Reid
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 oer 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.