"Barbara Allen" | Performance
Added 2018-07-15 01:14:45 +0000 UTC(gDGAD, relative, "Moonshiner Tuning)
In Scarlet Town where I was born
There was a fair maid dwelling,
She was the fairest of them all
And her name was Barbara Allen
All in the merry month of May
When sweet buds were a swelling,
Young William on his death bed lay
For the love of Barbara Allen
He sent his man into the town
To the house where she was dwelling,
My master's sick and he sends me here
If your name be Barbara Allen
So slowly she went to his home
So slowly she drew nigh him,
And all she said when she got there
Young man I fear you're dying
Do you remember in Scarlet Town
In yonder tavern drinking,
You gave a health to the ladies all
But you slighted Barbara Allen
Yes I remember and remember it well
In Scarlet's Tavern drinking,
I gave a health to the ladies all
But my heart to Barbara Allen
She turned her face unto the wall
She turned her back upon him,
Adieu adieu to all my friends
Be kind to Barbara Allen
As she was on the high road home
Those death bells were a knelling,
And every note did seem to cry
Hard hearted Barbara Allen
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Comments
i love to play willie moore in this tuning. it's a lovely tune--i prefer the lyrics which willie Watson wrote for it, though, as Birmingham Mill--sounds nicest two finger picking, but it's kind of fun to switch to clawhammer in the climactic verse, and then return to two finger for the final verse.
joel brady
2018-07-27 19:47:54 +0000 UTCGeorge mentioned to me recently that Buell Kazee recorded this song in dDGAD. He says that tuning matches Kazee's voice well but he doesn't care for it personally. I agree that gDGAD sounds better but I still find dDGAD very interesting; it is another "dulcimer tuning" for the banjo like gCGCC etc.
Clifton Hicks
2018-07-21 02:22:49 +0000 UTCExperimenting, almost any very pentatonic tune like Johnson boys, Liza Jane, Sugar Hill, Cumberland Gap, Sally Anne, Any with that back and forth between the major chord and the relative minor, too, work Great and easy with this tuning
Tony Thomas
2018-07-20 16:41:30 +0000 UTCGlad they are exposed to you and George.
Tony Thomas
2018-07-19 17:24:22 +0000 UTCIt is a great tuning. I retuned the banjo to that tuning and then got to your thing on Johnson boys a tune I have been playing since I was abput 15 on the guitar. It works for that its melow. I think Rosenbam does Willie Moore on it. A banjoist explores these tunings and finds tune she or he likes to playl
Tony Thomas
2018-07-19 17:24:13 +0000 UTCTony, I am visiting George currently here in North Carolina for the Swannanoa Gathering. His "performance talk" today was well received. George says he came up with this banjo arrangement to Barbara Allen after hearing it sang by neighbors. Apparently Art Rosenbaum recorded Buell Kazzee who sand this song tuned dDGAD. The only songs I know in this tuning, gDGAD, are Barbara Allen and Moonshiner.
Clifton Hicks
2018-07-19 02:55:13 +0000 UTCIntrigued by the tuning. I encountered it in the Art Rosenbaum DVD/Book on tunings, and LOL never got further than that tuning. What other tunes in it. Also love your singing, it comes very strong which is hard to do playing banjo. You sing like you care
Tony Thomas
2018-07-19 00:41:40 +0000 UTCI really enjoyed listening to this, Clifton. Great vocals and playing as always. A beautiful song for sure.
Mike Rebitzke
2018-07-16 04:29:02 +0000 UTCNice version here, Clifton. Very much liked the George Gibson one you posted a while back too—can hear the similarities. Jean Ritchie has a beautiful vocal version of this song; interesting to hear the differences in how the melody is held—plus the slight variations in the lyrics and the fact that song is referred to as 'Barbry' Allen rather than Barbara.
Daniel Hester
2018-07-15 10:41:15 +0000 UTC
