BARBARY ALLEN

 

BARBARY 

ALLEN 

Barbary Allen is a narrative song, or a song that tells a story. In many ways the song Barbary Allen feels like words of a story being sang aloud instead of lyrics that were written for a song. At least it feels like that by todays definition of what a song is. Barbary Allen tells the story of William, a young man who, as he lies on his deathbed, calls out to Barbary Allen. Barbary takes her time to answer his call and when she finally meets him she treats him harshly. She reminds him of how he slighted her and says if my love is the only thing that can save you then "No better, no better you'll never be For you can't have Barbary Allen." On her journey home, she hears the "death bell knelling." She knows that it means William has died. She immediately regrets her harshness and knows she will soon die of grief herself. 

"Oh mother, oh mother go make my bed 
       Go make it lone and narrow       
Young Williams died for me today
I'll die for him tomorrow"

This song is sometimes referred to as "Barbary Allens cruelty," I don't agree with that title because I can sympathize with Barbary. Barbary's insecurities are portrayed clearly in this song. She presented herself to be uninterested in Williams fragile health but in the end we learn those weren't her true feelings at all.

This song was wildly popular in its time. And after listening to this five minute balled three times in a row I have to wonder why?

Was it popular because this song is SO repetitive that it was constantly stuck in everyones heads?

Was there an ongoing debate on whether you sympathized more with William or with Barbary? The same way we argue about whether Ross and Rachel were on a break? (They were definitely not on a break)

Break







Comments

  1. Lauren HarmonSeptember 19, 2021 at 3:17 PM

    I think it’s really interesting that you brought up the idea of who people could sympathize with better. I would say for many they could probably relate to both at some point in their life. Maybe everybody was dealing with heartbreak during this time so they wanted to turn on something that really hit home. I for sure know that's what I do.

    ReplyDelete
  2. NSavageSeptember 20, 2021 at 7:22 PM

    I would totally agree that this song doesn't feel like a song by today's standards for sure. When I listen to the song it is way more focused on the story of the song then the instrumental parts of even the singing for that matter.

    ReplyDelete

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