Ye Vagabonds :: Barbara Ellen 

For anyone not in the know, one of the brothers is winding his hand. This was common in Sean Nós singing, the singer would wind their hand either solo, or often the person next to them's hand was grabbed and wound also. There's links to the winding or clockwise nature possibly going back to pagan times and the contiuing circle or spiral. Think of the traditions found where one walks clockwise/counter clockwise around a sacred/holy place or dancing around the May pole. They all have foundations in antiquity and the worship of the circle or spiral.

And the winner of this year's Air Gurdy competition goes to . . .

My god! That's the best bit of real dialogue captured on camera I've seen for a long while, fair play to Jimmy for not bottling it due to the presence of a camera - he was nervous, he was unsure but his instinct for the okness of it all prevailed, and what a treat. My heart goes to that man for his love animals and that he survived a double bout of pneumonia, any soul who endures such a torturous illness deserves kindness caring and massive respect. Bravo for the existence of this rare vignette and of course not least the sweet singing. Jesus wept!

Fabulous. thank you both.

This is the only song I ever heard my Grandmother sing...it was her song...thank you so much for this ..a wonderful version.....

My Ozark Mt. raised grand mother used to sing this to us. (alittle bit different) then I saw yet a different version in my 11th grade English lit. book. Y'all make it fresh with that gorgeous harmony.

We have heard this song before many times and always thought it a bit dull. So thank you ye vagabonds for transforming this old song into something so deliciously tense and heart renching. At new year our whole party trooped up the side of the hill into a blackthorn grove. Moved to sing we filled the glen with this song. Truly magic. Now it's often the first thing we play when we pick up our instruments. Love and peas The Lasses fae Abergeldie

brilliant. and that conversation at the end. just class.

That is a very old song. In the Appalachian mountains of the US it survives as Barbry Ellen and is frequently played on the dulcimer...

Your films are such an inspiration for my work!

T'was early early in the spring When rose buds they were swelling Young William on his deathbed lay Oh, for the love of Barbara Ellen He sent her a servant to the town To the town where she was dwelling Saying, "My master's sick and he send for you if you be Barbara Ellen" So slow, so slowly she got up And slowly she went to him But all she said when he got there, "Young man, I fear you're dying" "Oh, yes, I'm sick, I'm dreadful sick I hear the death winds howling And no better, no better will I ever be If I can't have Barbara Ellen" Well, I remember that distant night And in the logwood tavern you sang And danced with a lady's fair You slighted, Barbara Ellen And she was on her long way home She saw her funeral coming She said lay me down his body there That I may look upon him The more she looked, the more saw 'Til she fell down in sorrow "Young William died for me today, I'll die for him tomorrow" They laid her in the far graveyard And William's grave beside her And o'er his grave grew a red red rose O'er Barbara 's grave a briar They grew and grew up the churchyard wall 'Til they could grow no higher And they wound and bound in a true lovers' knot The red rose and the briar Era temprano, temprano en la primavera Cuando las rosas florecían El joven William yacía en su lecho Por el amor de Barbara Ellen Envío un sirviente al pueblo Al pueblo donde ella vivía Diciendo, "Mi señor está enfermo y me envía a por usted, si es que es Barbara Ellen" Lenta, lentamente ella se levantó Y lentamente fue hacia él Pero lo único que dijo cuando llegó "Muchacho, me temo que estás muriendo" "Oh, sí, estoy enfermo, estoy gravemente enfermo Escucho la muerte llegar Y no estaré mejor, no estaré mejor Si no puedo tener a Barbara Ellen" Recuerdo esa noche distante Y en la taverna Bailabas y cantabas con una bella mujer Arrasabas, Barbara Ellen Y se dirigía de viaje a casa Cuando vio su propio funeral aproximarse Dijo, "Rucuesten su cuerpo ahí Que he de mirarlo" Cuanto más miraba, más veía Hasta que cayó en desesperación "El joven William murió por mí hoy, Moriré por él mañana" Pusieron su tumba en el cementerio Y la de William junto a ella Y sobre la de él creció una rosa roja Sobre la de Barbara creció un rosedal Crecieron y crecieron sobre las paredes del cementerio Hasta que no pudieron crecer más alto Y se ataron en un nudo de amantes La rosa roja y el rosedal

Woah.

Amazing harmony singing (not often seen in trad Irish singing). The "winding" is very old-school trad, sometimes clasped in another's hand

This filled my soul with joy. I'm so glad to have found it! :D

Another beautiful piece of art myles thanks vids a masterwork like gormleith one

You lads are a treasure. Brilliant stuff.

Gorgeous rendition! Thank you.

I listen to this everyday.

Harmony that rivals the Louvin Brothers. Amazing!

The man at the end said `got rid of the pigeons but about thirty came back` He could make a steady living doing that!

i love how your man at the end compares pigeons with smoking

Love that chat at the end. Sure something will do us all in at the end....once we go happy. Wise words 😎 8 people don't like pigeons.

Just thank you - keep it alive :)

Best content on RU-vid

GREAT !!!

I admire their respect for the classic folk repertoire,,,as Dylan found you cant go wrong with the old ballads,,they never let you down,I recommend the repertoire of the young American singers Anna and Elizabeth, But the hurdy gurdy hand movements,,is it in homage to the old sea no singers,The last two minutes are grand,,never forget the townland,,,buy a foal off the travellers, Never tire of the road vagabonds,,never tire of the road

brilliant!

speechless!

Wonderful, absolutely wonderful

I love this version of this old song, Said to be a 17th century Scottish Ballad which travelled to North America and became very popular over there with very many differing versions turning up here and there. It remained popular in England, Scotland and Ireland. The Everly Brothers used also do a very good version of this song, but then I am biased because I feel that there is something special about sibling harmony.

What a gem! thanks!

I believe this is a very old traditional Scottish or Irish folksong/ballad. I just love this version, it's so haunting and beautifully sung in the mourning tradition.

that is a sweet melodic accent, oh brothers from Ireland * thank you for the translation though ;) one needs to listen to it a while to decode it, I reckon.. all indigenous language, I believe.. beautiful!! through music we all unite, all the people and the times and the old stay alive all together in the Now # take care, be true and give the world your present, Ye Vagabonds!! Light from Olympus ~

Brilliant boys 😘😘😘😘😘🌹🍀🍀🌹

Thanks boys that was nice

Very nice 😍

you are amazing

Almost forgot to watch this today

He didn't want to talk to the father anyway!

Bravó.

I love the rendition and the production of the video (the melody is also not the one I familiar with, one of their own arrangements?). But please explain what is going on with the phantom Hurdy Gurdy??

The lads - no way no way lol😂Norfolk was it? No way

ITS GETTING WOSRER

where are all these videos from? and can we have moaar?

สุดยอด

Anjos cantado lindo

Up Carlow boys

Freeze the frame @ 3:16 for a very funny visual!

Unusual sound for a male duet, but great harmonizing on it.

Million miles better than Johnny Cash's version!

Is this about the Guardian columnist? No?

That kick sounded painful.