Meloy began his song writing days after learning to play the guitar in the seventh grade. He began recording in the eighth grade as a member of the musical collaboration, The B-Sides, recording, (to cassette tape), "The Mellow Bluesmen Die: A Spiritual Progression." He followed that with the band Figurehead, recording "Jesus' Mom." In his high school days Meloy was also part of Helena, Montana's Happy Cactus, releasing one album, "Cricket." Meloy also headed the now defunct, Tarkio, during his college days in Missoula, Montana. His career really began with the forming of The Decemberists in Portland, Oregon, in 2000.
Barbara Allen
Colin Meloy Lyrics
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When the green leaves were swellin?
That Young Jimmy Grove of the West Country
Fell in love with Barbrie Allen
He sent his men into the town
To the place where she was dwellin?
If ye name be Barbrie Allen
Then slowly, slowly got she up
And slowly came she nigh him;
And all she said when e'er she came,
?Young man I think you?re dyin?.?
Oh, yes I?m sick, I?m very sick
Indeed I think I'm dyin'
But a word from you will revive me again
Oh lovely Barbrie Allen
"Do you recall, young man," she said,
"When the red wine you were spillin'?
How you made the ladies' health(?) go 'round
And you slighted Barbrie Allen?"
And death was printed on his face
And all his heart(?) was stealin'
And he cried when she left his side,
"Hard-hearted Barbrie Allen!"
She was going over the field
She heard the death bell tollin'
And every sound the death bell gave---
"Hard-hearted Barbrie Allen!"
Oh mother, mother make me a bed
Oh make it soft and narrow
Since Jimmy died for me today
I'll die for him tomorrow.
The lyrics to Colin Meloy's song Barbara Allen tell the story of a young man named Jimmy Grove who falls in love with a woman named Barbrie Allen. He sends his men to the town where she lives to ask her to come see him. She eventually goes to him and tells him that he is dying. He begs her to say a word that will revive him, but she reminds him of how he had slighted her in the past, causing him to declare her "hard-hearted". After she leaves, he dies, and the lyrics end with Barbrie saying she will die for him the next day.
Line by Line Meaning
Twas round and about last Mai in the (side?)
It was around May when the story takes place.
When the green leaves were swellin?
It was spring when the story takes place.
That Young Jimmy Grove of the West Country
The singer's name is Jimmy Grove and he's from the West Country.
Fell in love with Barbrie Allen
Jimmy Grove fell in love with a woman named Barbrie Allen.
He sent his men into the town
Jimmy Grove sent his men to town to come find Barbrie Allen.
To the place where she was dwellin?
His men found her at home.
Oh will ye come to my master, dear
Jimmy Grove asked if Barbrie Allen would come to see him.
If ye name be Barbrie Allen
Jimmy Grove wanted to make sure they found the right person.
Then slowly, slowly got she up
Barbrie Allen got up slowly.
And slowly came she nigh him;
She approached him slowly.
And all she said when e'er she came,
Barbrie Allen didn't say much when she arrived.
?Young man I think you?re dyin?.?
She noticed Jimmy Grove looked sick and said so.
Oh, yes I?m sick, I?m very sick
Jimmy Grove admitted that he was sick.
Indeed I think I'm dyin'
Jimmy Grove thought he was dying.
But a word from you will revive me again
Jimmy Grove believes a word from Barbrie Allen would make him better.
Oh lovely Barbrie Allen
Jimmy Grove thinks Barbrie Allen is lovely.
"Do you recall, young man," she said,
Barbrie Allen asked Jimmy Grove if he remembered something.
"When the red wine you were spillin'?
She reminded him of a time when he spilled wine.
How you made the ladies' health(?) go 'round
She mentioned how he made the ladies drink.
And you slighted Barbrie Allen?"
She called out Jimmy Grove on ignoring her.
And death was printed on his face
Jimmy Grove looked like he was dying.
And all his heart(?) was stealin'
He felt like his heart was being stolen.
And he cried when she left his side,
Jimmy Grove cried when Barbrie Allen left.
"Hard-hearted Barbrie Allen!"
Jimmy Grove called Barbrie Allen 'hard-hearted.'
She was going over the field
Barbrie Allen was walking through a field.
She heard the death bell tollin'
She heard a bell that signified death.
And every sound the death bell gave---
She heard every sound the bell made.
"Hard-hearted Barbrie Allen!"
She heard her own name being called out in the bell's sounds.
Oh mother, mother make me a bed
Barbrie Allen asked her mother to make her a bed.
Oh make it soft and narrow
She wanted a narrow and comfortable bed.
Since Jimmy died for me today
Barbrie Allen thought Jimmy Grove died because of her.
I'll die for him tomorrow.
Barbrie Allen decided she would die for him the next day.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: J BAIRD, TRADITIONAL, PD TRADITIONAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mark Weiss
needs a trumpet part, maybe by members of man man
bobofmeeerfuckyou
Oh yes im sick, im very sick
Azarill Noneya
Indeed i think i am die'n