In Reading town, where I was born,
There was a fair maid dwelling,
Made every youth cry, "Well-a-day!"
Her name was Barbara Allen.
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Source: Kidson F, 1891, Traditional Tunes, A Collection of Ballad Airs, Oxford, Taphouse and Son
Notes:
Frank Kidson notes:
The first version here following, noted down from Mr Holgate, is from the singing of an English girl in Ghent, some forty years ago, and this version, with a different termination, is heard in the the West Riding of Yorkshire.
Roud: 54 (Search Roud index at VWML) Take Six
Laws:
Child:
Related Songs: Barbara Allen (2) (thematic) Barbara Allen (3) (thematic)