“The Ballad of Barbara Allen”, also known as “Barbara Ellen,” “Barbara Allan,” “Barb’ry Allen,” “Barbriallen,” etc., is a folk song known in dozens of versions. The author is unknown, but the song may have originated in England or Scotland. ~
The earliest known mention of the song is in Samuel Pepys’ diary for January 2. 1666 where he refers to the “little Scotch song of ‘Barbary Allen’”. ~~~~~

The ballad of Barbara Allen was first printed in England in 1750 but had existed in oral versions at least a century before that date. The ballad was first printed in the United States in 1836.

Most versions of “Barbara Allen” can be summarised thus: a young man is dying of unrequited love for Barbara Allen; she is called to his deathbed but all she can say is, ‘Young man, I think you’re dying.’ When he dies, she is stricken with grief and dies soon after. Often, a briar grows from her grave and a rose from his, until they grow together.
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